76 A BIRD'S-NEST HUNTER. 



household arrangements of another and 

 much less stoical pair of solitary vireos. 

 These, as soon as I discovered their secret 

 (which was not till after several attempts), 

 became extremely jealous of my proximity, 

 no matter how indirect and innocent my 

 approaches. Even when I seated myself 

 at what I deemed a very respectful dis- 

 tance the sitting bird would at once quit 

 her place, and begin to complain in her 

 own delightfully characteristic manner, 

 chattering, scolding, and warbling by turns, 

 refusing to be pacified in the least until 

 I took myself off. Once I remained for 

 some time close under the nest, on purpose 

 to see how many of the neighbors would be 

 attracted to the spot. With the exception 

 of the wood wagtails, I should say that 

 nearly all the small birds in the immediate 

 vicinity must have turned out : black-and- 

 white creepers, redstarts, chestnut - sided 

 warblers, black - throated greens, a blue 

 golden-wing, red-eyed vireos, and a third 

 solitary vireo. If they were moved with 

 pity for the pair whose lamentations had 

 drawn them together, they did not mani- 

 fest it, as far as I could see. Perhaps they 



