OVEN-BIRD. 135 



mouth of the nest had been pulled together, so as 

 to leave only a round hole just large enough for 

 the bird to go in and out. For some time I was 

 at a loss to account for it, but I had noticed from 

 the outset that this bird acted peculiarly. On 



none of my visits had she uttered a note or come 

 near me, while the other mother oven-birds always 

 began smacking their bills and flying hither and 

 thither the instant I appeared. Perhaps this 

 mother was more thoughtful than the others, and 

 considering their clatter dangerous, went to the 

 other extreme. 



The most terrified oven-bird that I have ever 

 seen I found on a densely wooded hillside in the 

 same woods. She began her smacking as soon as 

 we came in sight, but although we hunted care- 

 fully for the nest we could not find a trace of it. 

 We sat down on a log and waited for her to show 



