A BOOFED-OVER NEST. 159 



In that spot we sat an hour, and saw many 

 birds, with whom it was evidently a favorite 

 hunting-ground. But no one seemed to live 

 there ; every one appeared to be passing through; 

 and realizing as we did, that it was late in the 

 season, our search for nests in use was rather 

 half-hearted anyway. As our breakfast -time 

 drew near we decided to go home, having found 

 nothing we cared to study. Just as we were 

 taking leave of the spot I heard, nearly at my 

 back, a gentle scolding cry, and glancing 

 around, my eyes fell upon two small birds run- 

 ning down the trunk of a walnut sapling. A 

 few inches above the ground one of the pair 

 disappeared, and the other, still scolding, flew 

 away. I hastened to the spot and there I 

 found my great Carolinian. 



The nest was made in a natural cavity in the 

 side of a stump six or eight inches in diameter 

 and a foot high. It seemed to be of moss, com- 

 pletely roofed over, and stooping nearer its level 

 I saw the bird, looking flattened as if she had 

 been crushed, but returning my gaze, bravely 

 resolved to live or die with her brood. I noted 

 her color, and the peculiar irregular line over 

 her eye, and then I left her, though I did not 

 know who she was. Nothing would have been 

 easier than to put my hand over her door and 

 catch her, but nothing would have induced me 



