BIRD ENEMIES. 231 



and the quick movement of his head as he tried to 

 seize the birds. The sparrows darted about and 

 through the grass and weeds, trying 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 ut- 

 tered no cry, not a sound escaped them ; they were 

 plainly speechless with horror and dismay. Not 

 once did they drop their wings, and the peculiar ex- 

 pression 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 as- 

 sault from the rear. There appeared to be little dan- 

 ger 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 young I know not. The 

 male sparrow had cheered me many a day with his 



