WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH BIRDS 



of us had much hope, but there were so many other things to find 

 we were sure not to waste time, so we set out. And we did find 

 things, for all nature was very busy that morning. We took a 

 rare butterfly, located a Cuckoo nest, a Woodpecker tree, a Song 

 Sparrow's bush, and found a fine specimen of cardinal flower, 

 which is rare in this locality. 



On the way back to the carriage, from under our very feet 

 Mother Quail rose with a whir, and there was a breath of faint 

 peeps. We were in the thick of the seventeen youngsters. I 

 dropped to my knees and began combing the grass with my fin- 

 gers. The first sweep brought up a tiny ball of fluff with a black 

 striped back and the second another. By that time Bob had one, 

 then I had another; my hands were full of Quail now and no 

 place to put them. Bob came up with a second chick and what to 

 do with them was a serious problem, for their little legs flew. 



Just then Bob sighted another baby and in desperation 

 stuffed the two he held into the front of his flannel shirt. I 

 passed over mine and in they went also. Then we hunted Quail 

 by hand. The sun was hot and it was warm work, but we had 

 eight before we quit and that was all we felt we could manage 

 at once. What to do with them became the next question. 



The grass was high and there was no chance where we were. 

 I suggested taking them back to the nest. But that was in high 

 grass also. Bob had a better plan. He knew where there had 

 been a Quail-nest in an adjoining wheat-field, beside a big stone. 

 We could have a better opportunity there, and one egg remained 

 in the nest. Also it was close to the carriage and would save mov- 

 ing the cameras far, so I welcomed the suggestion. 



I set up the camera, focused on the nest, bent back the wheat, 

 left the unhatched egg as it lay and announced I was ready. 



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