BIRD ENEMIES 209 



looking more closely, I saw the glistening form of 

 the black snake, and the quick movement of his 

 head as he tried to seize the birds. The sparrows 

 darted about and through the grass and weeds, try- 

 ing to beat the snake off. Their tails and wings 

 were spread, and, panting with the heat and the 

 desperate struggle, they presented a most singular 

 spectacle. They uttered no cry, not a sound es- 

 caped them; they were plainly speechless with hor- 

 ror and dismay. Not once did they drop their 

 wings, and the peculiar expression of those uplifted 

 palms, as it were, I shall never forget. It occurred 

 to me that perhaps here was a case of attempted 

 bird-charming on the part of the snake, so I looked 

 on from behind the fence. The birds charged the 

 snake and harassed him from every side, but were 

 evidently under no spell save that of courage in 

 defending their nest. Every moment or two I 

 could see the head and neck of the serpent make 

 a sweep at the birds, when the one struck at would 

 fall back, and the other would renew the assault 

 from the rear. There appeared to be little danger 

 that the snake could strike and hold one of the 

 birds, though I trembled for them, they were so 

 bold and approached so near to the snake's head. 

 Time and again he sprang at them, but without 

 success. How the poor things panted, and held 

 up their wings appealingly ! Then the snake glided 

 off to the near fence, barely escaping the stone 

 which I hurled at him. I found the nest rifled 

 and deranged; whether it had contained eggs or 



