184 BIRDS THROUGH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



in her little one. Her eyes were fixed on me, 

 however, and just before the baby flew from my 

 approaching hand, she dashed down and flew 

 about wildly, trailing, as I had hoped. It was 

 pitiful to see her distress, and having taken a 

 good look at her I retreated as fast as possible. 



Each bird has its own method of decoy : the 

 whippoorwill starts up the leaves that look like 

 her scampering babies ; the kingfisher .falls on 

 the surface of the water ; and the redstart, instead 

 of spreading her wings and tail and dragging 

 them on the ground as the oven-bird does, spreads 

 and drags her tail, while she flutters her wings 

 with a tremulous motion, which is much more ef- 

 fective, suggestive of weakness and helplessness 

 to the hungry animal, who finds a fat, full-grown 

 bird more appetizing than a scrawny youngster ; 

 suggestive of anguish to the man, to whom it 

 seems an appeal for mercy. The love of knowl- 

 edge gave little excuse for treating a poor little 

 mother to such a scare, but I consoled myself by 

 thinking that she would be all the more wary 

 when real danger threatened. 



LXII. 



BLACK AND WHITE CREEPING WARBLER. 



As his name indicates, this creeper is entirely 

 black and white. Except on the underside of his 



