100 THE WILES OF A WARBLER 



From the position of the nest I should 

 have been certain it was the work and the 

 home of a parula warbler but for one remark- 

 able circumstance. The tree was claimed and 

 guarded by a redstart, while never once, ex- 

 cept for a moment, and on another tree, on 

 that first morning, was a male parula seen or 

 heard in the neighborhood. 



The redstart who caused this complication 

 spent nearly all his time on the nest-tree in 

 silence, and a redstart silent is a redstart with 

 important business in hand. He watched me 

 constantly, drove off strange birds who 

 alighted on the branches, and though he did 

 not actually go to the nest, he showed his 

 anxiety and concern every moment. 



I should not have been disturbed about the 

 absence of the male parula, that is, I should 

 not think that conclusive as to the identity, 

 although I knew of a nest of a parula about 

 which the male was most attentive, bringing 

 food and hovering around his sitting mate 

 devotedly. For birds differ in their domestic, 

 as in their other habits. Besides, have we not 

 the example of the ruby-throat to prove that 

 some males are conspicuous by their absence 



