206 HAPS IN THE FIELD 



I have often seen flycatchers, warblers, swal- 

 lows, and even that shy fellow, the cuckoo, 

 alight on the kingbird's nest-tree when the 

 so-called belligerent bird was on guard, but 

 he took not the slightest notice of any one 

 of them. 



At the farther end of this delightful half- 

 wild pasture a rose-breasted grosbeak had 

 set up her home. I had not been able to find 

 the nest, though I was sure it was there, for 

 the bird was so madly afraid of her human 

 neighbors that I had n't the heart to annoy 

 her. I saw the head of the family very 

 often, making himself useful in a potato-field 

 close by, and I waited with what patience I 

 might for the advent of the youngsters, 

 whom I was sure no mother, however wary, 

 could keep out of sight. 



One afternoon I heard the peculiar baby- 

 cry of the grosbeak, and set out to find it. 

 At the edge of the thicket I was met by 

 mamma, whose anxious salute assured me I 

 was on the right track. I paid no attention 

 to her, but sat down quietly and waited. 

 After circling around me on all sides, repeat- 

 ing her sharp, metallic " klink," she was irre- 



