190 BIRDS 



A nest discovered in the summer of 1921 was built 

 on a horizontal limb not seven feet from the footpath on 

 Cliff Drive, in Kansas City, where hundreds of people 

 walked daily beneath it with heads almost touching the 

 branch. Yet here the birds reared their young as con- 

 tentedly as though they were hidden away in some grape- 

 vine-covered bush far from the traveled trail. 



I set up my camera within two feet of this nest. The 

 female was shy but the male came without any hesitation, 

 fed the young and cleaned the nursery. On one occasion 

 the sensitized plate caught the female in the act of brood- 

 ing. (Fig. 106.) 



While I was observing this family three Tufted Tit- 

 mice, in the absence of the Cardinals, alighted on the edge 

 of the nest and inspected the young birds, all the while 

 carrying on quite a Titmouse conversation. ^ They then 

 took their departure, leaving the nest with its contents 

 just as they found it. During this time the old birds were 

 within ten feet of the young and offered no protest by 

 voice or action. These little blue-gray birds have the 

 habit of prying into other birds ' affairs in their neighbor- 

 hood, but I have never seen one of them do any damage 

 to eggs or nestlings. 



On one occasion, when the young were about ready to 

 leave the nest, I placed my camera close to it, and the 

 mother bird succeeded in enticing the babies, bird after 

 bird, until she had her entire brood out of the nest and 

 scattered through the thicket. She would come up near 

 the nest with a worm in her mouth and, with a peculiar 

 call, or order, oft repeated, retire a few feet, as if to say, 

 "Come on, come on! I will not feed you until you do 

 come ! ' ' 



After the last bird had broken home ties she retired 

 to the depths of the thicket, triumphant, and joined the 

 male, while the bird photographer folded his tripod and 

 bade them goodby with best wishes for their future 

 safety. 



The Cardinal's disregard for zero weather, snow or 

 rain, makes the bird of all seasons our friend. When we 

 go forth clothed in furs and all other living things are 

 snugly housed, we find the Cardinal with its flaming coat 

 darting from thicket to thicket, as though flaunting joy 



