THE COW-BIRD 



NEST OF VIREO CONTAINING TWO EGGS OF THE BUILDER AND ONE OF 

 THE COW-BIRD 



covered before her. He fairly worshipped the delicately coloured, 

 jewel-eyed little pair and their exquisite cradle. Concerning 

 them he was squarely on the ground of Nuttall, who said that, 

 "wantonly to destroy these delightful aids to sentimental happi- 

 ness ought to be viewed not only as an act of barbarity, but 

 almost as sacrilege." Knowing what the destruction of a single 

 Vireo egg meant to Bob, I went with all possible haste. 



He was angrier even than I had feared, for the Cow-bird had 

 eaten one Vireo egg and in depositing her own, cracked another. 

 He had a little bowl-shaped paddle whittled out and ready, and 

 on my advice scooped out the broken egg, lest it soil the contents 

 of the nest in bending down the limb. AVe tied the branch se- 

 curely so in a short time the two Vireo eggs and the big speckled 

 one were on record. Scarcely had the shutter clicked when Bob 



269 



