AMERIOAN ORNITHOLOGY. 163 



and seated ourselves close beside the railing, meaning to observe diverse 

 small matters, of scientific importance; but the actors were too interesting. 

 They came almost to us. All the hair vras gone in no time. We jjlaced 

 food for them on the ledge, but they thanked us, they did not wish it. We 

 held out our hands full of cake crumbs, they heeded them not, but stood 

 tugging at the woodbine cord, for which they had no need and which they 

 wished only because they could not get it. Not a sound escaped them. 

 They did not seem to see us, though we were almost in their way and the 

 children were by no means quiet. If the birds had been deaf mutes they 

 could not have been more silent or more oblivious to sound. 



On the second morning, before we got out to the veranda, they had car- 

 ried off every vestige of material, including the red and pink cord. They 

 had more than they could possibly use. 



Photo by N. P. Stone. 

 Young Cedar-birds. 



After that they did not call at the veranda, and although they had opened 

 up such an intimate acquaintance, they gave us to understand that there was 

 an end of it. We had served them in a time of need. As to the sum of their 

 indebtedness, the apple tree was a mute and powerful witness. It had be- 

 come "a thing of shreds and patches." Several days elapsed before the 

 habitation assumed a nest-like aspect and even to the end it was a ridiculous 

 spectacle, with cords hanging about in the most purposeless manner. After 

 it was out of use, it fell to our possession. We found in it nothing save 

 what we had furnished ourselves. It was not only disorderly but so shallow 

 that we wondered it could have cradled three active infants. 



