126 MATESHIP WITH BIRDS 



family to which I first gave close attention, photo- 

 graphic and otherwise. 



I made their acquaintance towards the end of 

 September, the mother then being in proud posses- 

 sion of a nest neatly and protectively built into a 

 fork created by a branch shooting out 

 from a trunk of a box-tree, and having the usual 

 nest-carpet of small dry leaves. Early in October 

 one of the two handsome eggs gave forth life, and 

 the useless one was cast out. Possibly it was be- 

 cause they had only one babe to attend that the 

 parents grew more solicitous for its welfare than 

 is customary even with Robins. From the moment 

 that little black ball of quivering flesh stirred be- 

 neath her the mother became a fanatic, and dis- 

 played little fear of the inquisitive eye of a stand- 

 camera placed below the nest. Too much movement 

 would cause her to flutter away, but very soon she 

 would be back, guarding the treasure again. 



In the course of time the camera secured an 

 example of the bird crouching, a clever device no 

 other species can exercise so well. Sitting on the 

 solitary young one, the mother would be moving her 

 head in all directions in anticipation of possible 

 danger, when the crackle of a footstep on dry leaves 

 would come faintly to her. Apparently it was quite 

 obvious to the little creature that her back was pro- 

 tectively colored grey, while the yellow of the breast 

 was noticeable, for instantly she would sink flat 

 down in the nest until only the tip of the bill and a 

 bright eye were visible above the rim. It was a mat- 

 ter for wonder that the bird could efface herself so 

 completely. What was more curious still, the know- 



