Two Warbler Photographs 



207 



the wealth of nature's realm as revealed in his holdings of hill, vale, brooks, 

 springs, thickets, rocks and cedars. 



To get nearer my subject, a more ideal opportunity to make photographs of 

 a Parula's nest and occupants never presented itself, perhaps, to any one. The 

 beard of moss was most luxuriant, and afforded a quantity of material which 

 needed but few additions when the nest was shaped. A nest containing seven 

 eggs is, I presume, a rarity, and I could hardly believe I had found one until 

 the moss was lightly pressed aside and the little speckled objects counted. The 

 next day they were hatched, or at least some of them. Fear that I would disturb 



PARULA WARBLER APPROACHING ITS NEST 



the tranquilHty of the home made me timid about being too exact or scientific 

 at this time. However, the next day, there appeared hungry mouths to feed, 

 and the parent birds were now going and coming every three to five minutes, 

 in the morning. Photographs were made from a blind of three small cedars, 

 fastened at the top and spread, tepee fashion, within four feet of the nest. Although 

 showing signs of fear, at times, the parent birds went to the nest without much 

 hesitancy. First a sharp chip was heard, then the bird appeared upon the stone 

 wall in rear of the site, occasionally withdrawing to look at the bHnd, and at me 

 with my slouch hat, only partially concealed behind the cedars. Plates developed 

 every night gave room for improvement, and a last trial was to be made the 

 day before the camp was left, but my disappointment was great when the nest 



