40 Bird Comrades 



But my story is not to have a disappointing ending, 

 after all, for in the spring and summer of 1902 my stars 

 became auspicious, and I found three Kentucky warblers' 

 nests that were tenanted and several more that were 

 already deserted. Perhaps the turning of my luck was 

 due not so much to accident as to the fact that I had 

 ' 'caught on," and knew more about their ruses. One of 

 the .nests discovered is worth describing. 



It was on a hilltop in Kansas, blown by the freshest 

 breezes that sweep over the limitless prairies. An ideal 

 spot, indeed, for the nesting of birds that love lone places. 

 In one of my rambles I found this pleasant elevation, and 

 was attracted by the possibilities it offered for bird 

 study. Presently a male Kentucky warbler appeared with 

 a couple of large worms in his beak, and I made up my 

 mind to find his nest if perseverance could accomplish 

 that object. So I sat down in the shade of a tree and 

 watched the bird closely. Now note his admirable finesse. 

 After flitting about among the bushes for a minute or two, 

 chirping his protest at my presence, he descended into 

 the copse below and disappeared. Of course, any student 

 of birds would have supposed that he had gone down 

 near the nest to feed his bairns, and that he only needed 

 to go and examine the place to discover the little avian 

 secret. My pulses thrilled more than a little as I began 

 my search for the nest right where the bird had descended 

 into the thicket. But do you know that my most strenu- 

 ous efforts and they were strenuous on a hot day like 

 that resulted only in disappointment ? The nest was 



