THE TRAGEDIES OF THE NESTS. 31 



When disturbed it will clasp the nest and scream, and 

 snap its beak threateningly. One hatched out in a 

 song-sparrow's nest which was under my observation, 

 and would soon have overridden and overborne the 

 young sparrow, which came out of the shelJ a fev7 

 hours later, had I not interfered from time to time 

 and lent the young sparrow a helping hand. Every 

 day I would visit the nest and take the sparrow out 

 from under the pot-bellied interloper and place it on 

 top, so that presently it was able to hold its own 

 against its enemy. Both birds became fledged and 

 left the nest about the same time. Whether the race 

 was an even one after that, I know not. 



I noted but two warblers' neste during that season, 

 one of the black-throated blue-back and one of the 

 redstart, — the latter built in an apple-tree but a few 

 yards from a little rustic summer-house where I idle 

 away many summer days. The lively little birds, 

 darting and flashing about, attracted my attention for 

 a week before I discovered their nest. They prob- 

 ably built it by working early in the morning, be- 

 fore I appeared upon the scene, as I never saw them 

 with material in their beaks. Guessing from their 

 movements that the nest was in a large maple that 

 stood near by, I climbed the tree and explored it 

 thoroughly, looking especially in the forks of the 

 branches, as the authorities say these birds build in a 

 fork. But no nest could I find. Indeed, how can 

 one by searching find a bird's nest ? I overshot the 

 mark ; the nest was much nearer me, almost under 

 my very nose, and I discovered it, not by searching, 

 but by a casual glance of the eye, while thinking of 

 other matters. The bird was just settling upon it as 

 I looked up from my book and caught her in the act> 



