FRIENDS IN FEATHERS 



brush-heap of apple-tree trimmings, three tree locations distant 

 from the winesap, then went to the nest and took from it all the 

 babies, carrying them in the crown of an old hat. Then in the 

 range on which I had focus I set one baby full front, one three 

 quarters, one side, and one showing as much back as possible, and 

 made several exposures. While I worked both old Kingbirds 

 waited on their favourite perches watching me. Neither took 

 flight for any reason or made a sound. When I had finished I 

 replaced the babies in the nest and left them, thinking they surely 

 would go the following morning. As I was compelled to leave 

 home early Monday I cautioned Bob to watch for me. His 

 report was that the first of the young had left the nest at ten 

 o'clock Tuesday. 



These are of our most pugnacious and tyrannical small birds. 

 I recall no others so fearless in attacking birds as large by com- 

 parison as Chicken Hawks, even ; yet in a short time, by moving 

 quietly, remaining near them, using merely the precautions sug- 

 gested by common sense, I secured these pictures of them during 

 their nesting time, in their own location, posed exactly as they 

 naturally placed themselves. In handling the young, I first 

 covered the nest with my hand, then slipping in a finger worked it 

 under the young bird I wished to make friends with until I found 

 its feet and got it to grip as it would on a twig. Then slowly 

 and cautiously I raised it, gently removing my hand from the 

 nest to cover the bird and so hovering it until I wanted to place 

 it on a twig. Then I would hook its back toe over the limb, 

 slowly rolling my finger forward until its front toes would close 

 over the twig, still keeping it covered until it was contentedly 

 settled. In putting them back I began at the long middle front 

 toe and rolled my finger under each foot, all the time hovering 

 the bird with the other hand, then replacing them in the nest in 

 the same manner. It required all of half an hour to take these 



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