I Q2 ANIMAL BIOLOGY 



together with the bough of the tree on which it was built, 

 to a convenient point for observation. "In exactly 

 fifty-five minutes from the beginning of operations the 

 mother appeared with a large grasshopper, which she gave 

 to the young, and afterward cleaned the nest. The male 

 came also, when the comparative safety of the new con- 

 ditions had become apparent, but appeared with more 

 caution. At first both birds flew to the tree by their ac- 

 customed paths and examined the place where the bough 



FIG. 149. Nest and eggs of Massachusetts black duck. (After Forbush.) 



had been lopped off, and in their admirable and fearless 

 manner blustered about for a while, taking no pains to 



conceal their anger The absence of sound in 



strange objects is alway reassuring and now Mother 

 Robin could be seen perched on the top of an apple tree, 

 surveying the field. She called seet! seet! while the 

 grasshopper in her bill squirmed to get free, and the 

 young chirped loudly in reply Suddenly down 



