NESTING EPISODES NEAR HOME 109 



ceased. In all that time no bird went near the nest. 

 I was well-nigh discouraged, when suddenly I saw 

 a movement, and a wren appeared back of the nest 

 with a worm ! Hope revived again, though I feared 

 that her courage would fail and that she would not 

 quite dare to make the venture. However the young 

 were calling for food, and after five minutes of par- 

 leying she hopped on a stem close to the entrance of 

 the nest, but flew just as I was pulling the thread, 

 spoiling my shot ! 



This was discouraging. Now the bird would see 

 me for sure, and, learning of my presence, keep away 

 for the rest of the afternoon. The sun, too, was 

 getting dangerously low. Yes, she saw me and 

 scolded, but after a quarter of an hour's 'wait she took 

 a grub to the young, and I snapped her in the act. 

 She darted off when the shutter clicked, but soon 

 came back, after I had changed the plate, and this 

 time did not mind the shutter. After this she, or 

 they, abandoned all reserve, either convinced that I 

 was harmless, or yielding to the inevitable, and made 

 up for lost time in feeding the little wrens. By six 

 o'clock, when the shadow had crept to the nest, I had 

 eight exposures, six of which were successful, a fine 

 series, which I certainly think I earned. And now 

 I have no more delusions as to the tameness of the 

 long-billed marsh wren. I have photographed 

 hawks, and am inclined to think that this wren is 

 about as shy as they, in a way. 



An incident which occurred on June 16 seems to me 



