14 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 



a nearby branch the father bird sang, and I recog- 

 nized the song of the solitary or blue-headed vireo, 

 who belongs in the deep woods and whose rare nest is 

 usually found in their depths. As the male came 

 nearer, I could see his pure white throat which, with 

 the white line from eye to bill and the greenish-yellow 

 markings on either flank, make good field-marks. 

 The four eggs, which I saw afterwards when the 

 mother bird was off the nest, were white with reddish 

 markings all over instead of being blotched at one 

 end as are those of the red-eyed vireo. Every day 

 for the rest of that week I visited my little friend; 

 and before I left she grew to know~me so well that 

 she would not even ruffle up her feathers when I 

 pulled the limb down. 



Children are of great help in the life adventurous. 

 They have an inexhaustible fund of admiration for 

 even the feeblest efforts of their parents in adven- 

 turing. Many a dull dog, who once heard nothing 

 in all the world but the clank of business, has been 

 changed into a confirmed adventurer by sheer ap- 

 preciation. Moreover, children possess an energy and 

 imagination which we grown-ups often lack. Only 

 the other afternoon I started off for a walk with 

 my four, to find myself suddenly dining in the New 

 Forest with Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet, 

 and Allan a' Dale. Owing probably to a certain 

 comfortable habit of person, I was elected to be 

 Friar Tuck. 



The forest itself is a wonderful wood of great trees 



