4 6 



Wild Birds 



his apparatus, the flooring was barely clear of the water. On 

 the following day, the tent was pitched over this stranded raft 

 and guyed to the bushes, the tent poles having been previously 

 lengthened to suit the depth of mud and water. Everything 

 was ready for observations at half-past nine o'clock. At first 

 the birds fluttered around the nest chucking and whistling in- 



Fig. 34. Female Redwing Blackbird with feathers erect, keep- 

 ing cool while shielding young from heat. 



cessantly, but in less than an hour the warble of the male was 

 heard, which is a sure sign of growing confidence. Then both 

 birds went off for food, returned, reconnoitred the tent and nest, 

 and after precisely one hour and twenty-three minutes from 

 the beginning of observations the female came and fed her 



