GLIMPSES OF WILD LJFK 187 



by. P»y stooping low ;iii<l peering intently, I 

 could make out the nest and eggs. Two 'or 

 three times a week, as I passed by, I would 

 pause to see how the nest was prosix-ring The 

 mother bird would keep her ]>lace, her'' yellow 

 eyes never blinking. One morning as I looked 

 into her tent I found the nest empty. Some 

 night-prowler, probably a skunk or fox, or 

 maybe a black snake or red squirrel by day 

 had plundered it. It would seem as if it wal 

 too well screened : it was in such a spot as any 

 depredator would be apt to explore. "Surely " 

 he would say, 'Hhis is a likely place for 'a 

 nest." The birds then moved over the hill a 

 hundred rods or more, mucli nearer the house, 

 and m some rather open bushes tried again! 

 But again they came to grief. Then, after 

 some delay, the mother bird made a l)old stroke. 

 She seemed to reason with herself thus: "Since 

 I have fared so disastrously in seeking seclusion 

 for my nest, I will now adopt the opposite tac- 

 tics, and come out fairly in tlie open. AMiat 

 hides me hides my enemies: let us try greater 

 publicity." So she came out and built' her nest 

 by a few small shoots that grew beside the path 

 tliat divides the two vineyards, and where we 

 passed to and fro many times daily. 1 discov- 

 ered her by chance early in the morning as 1 

 proceeded to my work. Slie started up at my 

 feet and llitted quickly along al)ove the 

 ploughed ground, almost as red as the soil. 1 

 admired her audacity. Surely no prowler by 

 night or day would suspect a nest in this open 



