SUMMER 



hat and systematically digging up the 

 corn rows. Now that this luxury was 

 no longer to be had, they weren't above 

 robbing the bird's nests, and a robin's 

 nest in the low growth of the beech 

 knoll bore mute testimony to a recent 

 visit. The blue eggs were scattered 

 on the ground, each bearing the tell- 

 tale holes made by the robber's bill. 

 Probably a mischievous red squirrel 

 had taken a hand in the affair also, for 

 the nest was loosened and hung at a 

 slant. No doubt arriving after the 

 eggs had been destroyed, he must needs 

 put the finishing touches on the depre- 

 dation. 



Just over the fence from this spot 

 a red-eyed vireo had hung her nest on 

 the swaying branch of a young beech 

 and was sitting contented and happy, 

 not knowing the tragedy that awaited 

 her brood when they should hatch. 

 The cowbird neither builds a nest nor 

 rears her young, but lays her eggs in 

 the smaller bird's nest, and here she 

 had deposited one. When the young 

 vireos hatched, the impostor, being the 

 larger, would require more attention 

 51 



