A HERMIT'S WILD FRIENDS 



o'clock, there was a great outcry from the 

 old catbirds. I had gone to bed, in my ham- 

 mock, in the open air, with but a roof over me 

 to keep off the rain, so I could hear the birds 

 and knew that they were fighting to save their 

 little ones. Before I could go to the rescue, 

 one of the catbirds flew to the bushes within 

 three feet of my head, and frantica^y called 

 to me for help. When I came in sight of the 

 nest I saw a snake drop to the ground. One 

 of the young catbirds was missing. A hurried 

 search beneath the bushes in the dim light 

 was unsuccessful. The snake had silently and 

 swiftly disappeared with his victim. 



The old catbirds were pets of mine of sev- 

 eral years' standing, and the tragic fate of the 

 baby-bird caused me to try to save the other 

 three. I removed the nest and placed it in 

 a covered box in the cabin. The catbirds 

 followed me to the cabin door, but made no 

 protest. The next morning before sunrise 

 the birds awoke me by their cries. When I 

 was dressing they spent the time flying to and 

 fro, from cabin to hammock, calling to me to 

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