90 THE WARBLERS 



A charming little incident, which occurred to me on June 3, 

 1909, shows how curiously bold the parents can be in defence of 

 their young. I was hidden within three reed-thatched hurdles, watch- 

 ing and photographing a pair of these birds engaged in feeding a 

 lively brood of six. As the eldest knew all that was necessary for 

 self-preservation, and fearing that he might impart his knowledge 

 to the rest, I put him in my coat pocket. After an hour or so 

 I placed him in my hat, which rested on my knees. He soon 

 perched on the brim and began to call for 'food. Before long, to 

 my great astonishment, I saw the hen bird come creeping, mouse-like, 

 through my shelter, attracted by the cries of her first-born. She was 

 just about to give him a juicy green caterpillar, but finding herself 

 face to face with a horrid human being, flew off. The youngster com- 

 plained bitterly, and I remained motionless. The mother crept back 

 directly, and, climbing to the top of the camera, called the little one 

 to her and fed him. I then replaced him within the shelter, but a few 

 inches further away from my face. It was not long before the 

 courageous mother returned with some food, which she gave him, 

 keeping one eye on me all the time. As I had secured several photo- 

 graphs, I decided not to try the hen bird's feelings any longer, and, 

 after fixing a ring on the young one's leg, replaced him in the nest. 

 This business occupied several minutes, during which the mother 

 crept round and round, or with fluttering wings feigned injury, all 

 the time uttering a curious weasel-like cry, and coming so close 

 to me that I might have caught her. The male bird also showed 

 great anxiety, and frequently, when feeding the young in the nest, 

 rapidly displayed his tail-feathers, looking towards the camera and 

 protesting vigorously. The female fed the brood from the far side of 

 the nest, the male generally from the near ; on no occasion could I 

 secure a photograph of both together, one always slipped away the 

 moment a faint rustling among the herbage announced the presence 

 of the other. 



The food supplied to the young consists of small green 



