AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



307 



and I decided it was time for me to act if I wished any record of this 

 nest, as I knew from experience the sad results that are very apt to 

 occur should a nest be found by certain beasts, birds, or boys. With 

 little diiTficulty I secured a good likeness of the female as she was about 

 to descend to the eggs. The male bird at this time was literally "out 

 of a job" for I never saw him assist her in the duties of incubation and 

 only once did I see him feed her while she was on the nest. Most of 

 his time appeared to be spent in the tops of the taller trees catching 

 insects and driving away all other small birds that came anywhere near 

 him. 



With the advent of the young birds came an end to his period of loaf- 

 ing and he did his duty manfully and with a great deal of enthusiasm. 

 On an average of about once in every five minutes, one or the other of 

 the parent birds came to the nest with a load of provisions with which 

 to fill four gaping yellow mouths. 



The actions of the two adult'birds proved'to be entirely different in 

 the presence of the camera. The male showed a disdain for it that was 

 amusing. I placed the outfit in position while he was off foraging and 

 had my head under the focussing cloth, when I felt a rush of air, a 



Photo from life b\ C. A. Reed. 



BROODING HER YOUNG. 



