THE BLUEBIRD. 249 



eyes, but never moving till I had withdrawn 

 a few paces ; then she rushes out with a cry 

 that brings the male on the scene in a hurry. 

 He warbles and lifts his wings beseechingly, 

 but shows no anger or disposition to scold 

 and complain, like most birds. Indeed, this 

 bird seems incapable of uttering a harsh 

 note, or of doing a spiteful, ill-tempered 

 thing. 



The ground-builders all have some art or 

 device to decoy one away from the nest, 

 affecting lameness, a crippled wing, or a 

 broken back, promising an easy capture if 

 pursued. The tree - builders depend upon 

 concealing the nest or placing it beyond 

 reach. But the bluebird has no art either 

 way, and its nest is easily found. 



About the only enemies the sitting bird 

 or the nest is in danger of, are snakes and 

 squirrels. I knew of a farm-boy who was 

 in the habit of putting his hand down into 

 a bluebird's nest and taking out the old bird 

 whenever he came that way. One day he 

 put his hand in, and feeling something pecu- 

 liar, withdrew it hastily, when it was in- 

 stantly followed by the head and neck of an 

 enormous black snake. The boy took to 

 his heels, and the snake gave chase, pressing 



