THE BLUE JAY 



placed, but the brooding bird never flinched. Slowly and care- 

 fully I made my way back to the carriage and with my assistant 

 brought up and placed a twelve-foot step-ladder, then mounted 

 it with much caution, making a long wait on each step. The bird 

 sat so securely I decided her eggs had quickened, so I climbed 

 down, moved the ladder nearly under her branch, mounted again 

 and cut away grape-vines and small twigs that would be out of 

 focus. That blessed Jay Bird sat there while I used the clippers 

 on a grape-leaf not four inches from her breast. Then I placed 

 the ladder exactly right, but it was too low, so I added a mineral- 

 water box, securing it with the hitching strap. Still it was too 

 low, so I emptied my carrying case and set it on the box, then 

 placed the camera on that. Then I focussed and made several 

 studies of her. Throughout the whole proceeding, which was not 



"The baby lifted its head, opened wide its yellow mouth and asked for food" 



297 



