AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY, 



259' 



Photo from life. 



SHOT NO. 2. 



(About to clean the nest.) 



suspicious, tame it, or domesticate it and you experience all the ad- 

 vantages of possession, without taking its life or abridging its liberty. 

 In this way only, can one associate so intimately with the living bird, 

 that he can study its character, emotions, language and food under- 

 standingly. For years I have looked forward to the time when oppor- 

 tunity could be afforded to study the nesting and food habits of birds 

 by such intimate association with them. This hope seems at last 

 about to be realized. Two years ago sufficient leisure was assured to 

 admit of a search being made for a promising locality. A bicycle trip 

 along the Massachusetts coast from New Hampshire to the Rhode 



