A Black and White Creeper Family 



171 



after laying her straw across the desired place. I did not wait longer that 

 day, lest I drive her away by my presence. 



Not many afternoons passed before I visited her again, and found every- 

 thing running smoothly and made the acquaintance of the male. He was 

 a finely marked fellow; but he was always very shy and never gave me a 



BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, NEST AND EGGS 



chance to know him 

 very well. I could 

 generally find him 

 running about the 

 boughs of some near- 

 by oaks, always sing- 

 ing between every 

 mouthful. The fe- 

 male soon became 

 accustomed to my 

 frequent visits, and 

 busied herself about 

 her work in the usual 



manner. 



The male did not take any active part in the building, although I saw 

 him drop three or four straws on the nest. 



When she had begun to lay I visited her every day, lying nearer her each 

 time as I watched her. By the fifth of June five eggs were laid. The first 

 week after she was done laying she did not seem to be so careful about stay- 

 ing on the nest, for twice I found her ofif feeding with the male. But 

 toward the last of the incubation time one of the birds was constantly on 

 the nest. I found the male sitting usually at about dusk, but I think the 

 female sat on the eggs over night. She would not leave even if I touched 

 her, nor would she move if the camera was set close beside her. 1 think I 

 never heard an alarm note from her when I was there alone, but if I 

 brought a friend she would grow very nervous and snap at my finger, drag- 



