14 THE KINGBIRD'S NEST. 



exposed. I know he was near, for I heard him, 

 and occasionally saw him standing with body 

 horizontal instead of upright, as usual, the bet- 

 ter to maintain his position against the wind. 

 At about the ordinary intervals the sitter left her 

 nest, without so much as a leaf to cover it, and 

 was absent perhaps half as long as common, but 

 not once did her mate assume her post. 



How were this pair distinguished from each 

 other, since there is no difference in their dress? 

 First, by a fortunate peculiarity of marking ; 

 the male had one short tail feather, that, when 

 he was resting, showed its white tip above the 

 others, and made a perfectly distinct and (with a 

 glass) plainly visible mark. Later, when I had 

 become familiar with the very different manners 

 of the pair, I did not need this mark to distin- 

 guish the male, though it remained en evidence 

 all through the two months I had them under 

 observation. 



During the period of sitting, life went on with 

 great regularity. The protector of the nest 

 perched every night in a poplar-tree across the 

 yard, and promptly at half past four o'clock 

 every morning began his matins. Surprised and 

 interested by an unfamiliar song, I rose one day 

 at that unnatural hour to trace it home. It 

 was in that enchanting time when men are still 

 asleep in their nests, and even "My Lord Sun " 



