24 A WOODLAND INTIMATE. 



this time, however, my tender-hearted com- 

 panion protesting that their faithful custo- 

 dian should not be disturbed for the grati- 

 fication of his curiosity. So we bade her 

 adieu, and went in pursuit of a solitary 

 vireo, just then overheard singing not far 

 off. A few paces brought him into sight, 

 and as we came nearer and nearer he stood 

 quite still on a dead bough, in full view, 

 singing all the while. When my friend 

 had looked him over to his satisfaction, 

 never having met with such a specimen be- 

 fore, I set myself to examine the lower 

 branches of the adjacent trees, feeling no 

 doubt, from the bird's significant behavior, 

 that his nest must be somewhere in the im- 

 mediate neighborhood. Sure enough, it was 

 soon discovered, hanging from near the end 

 of an oak limb ; a typical vireo cup, sus- 

 pended within the angle of two horizontal 

 twigs, with bits of newspaper wrought into 

 its structure, and trimmed outwardly with 

 some kind of white silky substance. The 

 female was in it (this, too, we might have 

 foreseen with reasonable certainty) ; but 

 when she flew off, it appeared that as yet 

 no eggs were laid. The couple manifested 



