14 BIRDS. 



liarly expressive of horror and dismay, rushing about 

 a low clump of grass and bushes. Then, looking more 

 closely, I saw the glistening form of the black snake, 

 and the quick movement of his head as he tried to 

 seize the birds. The sparrows darted about and 

 through the grass and weeds, trying to beat the 

 snake off. Their tails and wings were spread, and, 

 panting with the heat and the desperate struggle, they 

 presented a most singular spectacle. They uttered no 

 cry, not a sound escaped them ; they were plainly 

 speechless with horror and dismay. Not once did 

 they drop their wings, and the peculiar expression 

 of those uplifted palms, as it were, I shall never 

 forget. It occurred to me that perhaps here was a 

 case of attempted bird-charming on the part of the 

 snake, so I looked on from behind the fence. The 

 birds charged the snake and harassed him from every 

 side, but were evidently under no spell save that of 

 courage in defending their nest. Every moment or 

 two I could see the head and neck of the serpent 

 make a sweep at the birds, when the one struck at 

 would fall back, and the other would renew the as- 

 sault from the rear. There appeared to be little dan- 

 ger that the snake could strike and hold one of the 

 birds, though I trembled for them, they were so bold 

 *nd approached so near to the snake's head. Time 

 and again he sprang at them, but without success. 

 How the poor things panted, and held up their wings 

 appealingly ! Then the snake glided off to the near 

 fence, barely escaping the stone which I hurled at 

 him. I found the nest rifled and deranged ; whether 

 it had contained eggs or young I know not. The 

 male sparrow had cheered me many a day with his 

 3ong, and I blamed myself for not having rushed at 



