50 IN THE EOCKY MOUNTAINS. 



see him. I saw something something that 

 took my breath away. A shadowy form creep- 

 ing stealthily through the shrubs five or six feet 

 from me. It glided across the opening in front, 

 and in a moment went to the bush I was watch- 

 ing. In silence, but with evident excitement, it 

 moved about, approached the nest, and in a few 

 seconds flew quickly across the path in plain 

 sight, holding in its mouth something white 

 which was large for its beak. I was reminded 

 of an English sparrow carrying a piece of bread 

 as big as his head, a sight familiar to every one. 

 In a minute or two the same bird, or his twin, 

 came to the nest again and disappeared on the 

 other side. 



When I left my place to go home, I looked 

 with misgivings into the nest on which I had 

 built so many hopes. Lo ! it was empty ! 



Now I identified that stealthy visitor abso- 

 lutely, but I shall never name him. I have 

 never heard him accused of nest-robbing, and I 

 shall not make the charge ; for I am convinced 

 that the chat had deserted the nest, and that 

 this abstractor of eggs knew it, and simply took 

 the good things the gods threw in his way as 

 would the best of us. 



After that unfortunate ending the chat dis- 

 appeared from the little park ; but a week later 

 I came upon him, or his voice, in a private and 



