A Double Tragedy 



283 



to get suitable pictures I had pulled up and pressed down some of the vege- 

 tation that stood in front of the nest; and thinking that there was little danger, 

 I had failed to conceal it when I left. Some prowling animal had happened 

 along, and the four lusty young that I had inspected late on the previous 

 evening were gone, scattered feathers at the door of the nest telling me that 

 the mother had been caught as she brooded them. 



I heard the male singing nearby, and once he came with food. He looked 

 into the empty nest from which hungry mouths had been wont to greet him, 

 and for a moment seemed puzzled (I hesitate to say dismayed) at the change. 

 Then, after looking to the right and left, as if seeking his mate, he flew away 

 and I saw him no more. 



It was an hour or so later that I heard the peculiar call of the Cowbird, 

 and almost immediately a female appeared in front of the peep-hole. She 



A COWBIRD INSPECTS THE QUAIL'S NEST 



had spied the empty Sparrow's nest and went directly to it. It apparently 

 suited her purpose for after a brief inspection she entered and sat down. If I 

 had only had the camera focused on the nest I might have caught her there, 

 but there was no time to rearrange my apparatus. Whether she saw the 

 feathers before the nest, or whether some instinct told her that the nest was 

 deserted, I know not, but she suddenly jumped up as if frightened and came 

 off. It was then that she saw the Quail's nest and she proceeded to inves- 

 tigate. Just as she was peeping in I released the shutter, but, unfortunately, 

 the focus was poor and the exposure inadequate. Perhaps she realized that 



