io8 Wild Birds 



the ruffles in her dress. These birds always look as sleek as a 

 new silk hat, every feather lying smooth in its place. 



One day while in my tent, a small bird of another species 

 suddenly darted down upon this nest. There was a momentary 

 flutter, a clash of beaks and claws, and the intruder was promptly 

 driven away. 



It was always interesting to watch the behavior of the 

 young between the intervals of feeding. The moisture would 

 fairly glisten in their wide-open mouths. They snapped at 

 every ant and flying insect which came within their reach, but 



Fig, 63. Standing in characteristic prone attitude of inspection. 



I never saw a single capture. The preying instinct is undoubt- 

 edly one of the most ancient among animals, and young birds 

 peck instinctively at all kinds of small objects, but precision 

 of aim which leads to success in capturing their prey must be 

 acquired by practice. These young Vireos would often hang 

 their heads down over the nest, and doze until aroused by the 

 piping of the Robin, or by the call of some other bird. Then 

 the mother would appear, with a huge green katydid, its wings 

 crumpled and held tightly in her sharp bill. It was surpris- 

 ing how quickly and gently it was assisted down one of the 

 hungry throats. 



At one of his visits, the male, after cleaning the nest and 



