THE WARBLER FAMILY 119 



sat watching my every move in an interested, but 

 somewhat suspicious way. 



Of course I must have a photograph of her as 

 she sat guarding her home and eggs. The greatest 

 care had to be observed in manipulating the 

 camera so as to avoid making any sudden move- 

 ment, for that will usually frighten a sitting bird, 

 even when she is not of a naturally timid nature. 

 Certain weeds and leaves had to be removed in 

 order that the bird might be clearly shown. 



Evidently she was beginning to place confidence 

 in me, for she allowed a twig to be broken off that 

 was within a few inches of the nest. The camera 

 was finally arranged in proper position, and who 

 will say what she thought of the strange, three- 

 legged monster that stared at her with its large 

 single eye? She watched it intently, and 1 was 

 able to make an exposure of three seconds, for I 

 was using the single combination of the lens, as the 

 sunlight had crept slowly away from the nest, 

 leaving it in the shadow of the tall trees. 



After making still another exposure I took the 

 camera away, and returning, took a seat quite close 

 to the nest. This I did that the bird might be 

 accustomed to me, as I had in mind the time 

 when I should want to photograph her youngsters. 

 So long as I remained she never left the nest, but 

 going to sleep, showed plainly that she no longer 

 had fear of me. All this time her mate stayed 

 near by, hunting incessantly among the leaves for 

 his insect food. Sometimes, as though to vary his 

 fare, he would devote his attention to the bark of 

 the trees, creeping up and down somewhat after 



