66 A THORN-TREE NEST. 



On the sixth evening after I had thought my- 

 self bereaved of the shrikes, I went out for a 

 walk with my friend, and we turned our steps 

 into the lonely road. As we approached the 

 thorn, what was my surprise to see the shrike in 

 his old place on the fence, and, after waiting a 

 few minutes, to see his mate go to the ground 

 for her lunch, as if nothing had happened ! 



Then they had not deserted ! But how and 

 why all life about the nest had been suspended 

 for one hour on the Fourth of July is a puzzle 

 to this day. However it may have happened, I 

 was delighted to find the birds safe, and at once 

 resumed iny study ; going out the next morning 

 as usual, staying some hours, and again toward 

 night for another visit. 



Now I was sure it must be time for the young 

 to be out, for I knew positively that the bird 

 had been sitting fourteen days, and twenty-one 

 days had passed since she was frightened off her 

 nest twice in one day. 



I redoubled my vigilance, but I saw no change 

 in the manners of the pair till the morning of 

 July 12th. All night there had been a heavy 

 downpour, and the morning broke dismally, with 

 strong wind and a drizzling rain. I knew the 

 lonely road would be most unattractive, but no 

 vagaries of wind or weather could keep me away 

 at this crisis. I found it all that I had antici- 



