76 



AMERICAN ORXITHOLOG\. 



found afterwards, and all this time the old birds had been fluttering" 

 about him, doing their best to drive him away, but it was of no use as 

 long as his appetite held good. I did not wait long to see him proceed, 

 but ran as quickly as possible to the house and got a long spear. 



After arguing several minutes with the spotted demon, I brought 

 him to the ground, and having seen his finish, I hastened to the nest. 

 What a horrible sight. Three of the little birds were gone, and the re- 

 maining one'was so badly bitten that he died in a few minutes. It was 

 truly a sad day for the parent birds, and they seemed to show their sor- 

 row. 



They stayed around the willow for a few days as if mourning their 

 loss. Not once during these gloomy days did I hear their cheerful 

 "che-bec." But as the sunshiny days came their spirits seemed to re- 

 vive, and they decided to try and rear another family. They were wise 

 enough this time, however, not to make their home in the same place. 

 So they moved their nest, piece by piece, across the road to the top of 

 a large butternut tree, and were doubtless as happy when migration time 



came as though they had not met with their sad misfortune. 



Wai. H. Sanders. 



Photo from life by Geo. C. Embody, 



YOUNG KINGBIRDS. 



