258 



Bird - Lore 



take a friend to the Sanctuary on one pretext or another, and when we were 

 near enough to the Vireo home, I would point the bird out and make a formal 

 introduction: "Madame Vireo, allow me to present my friend, Mr. Hunter." 

 Whereupon Mr. Hunter would approach, and, after making an offering of an 

 ant's egg or two, would almost literally shake hands with the lady. Many 



people were introduced in this 

 way, and children especially ex- 

 perienced ecstatic joy at the 

 privilege of feeding and stroking 

 a wild bird in her own home. 



One warm afternoon when 

 some of us were paying her a 

 visit, the little Vireo slipped 

 away for a few minutes, and, 

 flying to a bird-bath not far 

 away, took a bath and returned, 

 looking much refreshed and with 

 her plumage damp and some- 

 what disarranged. Very soon 

 she flew to the nest and looked 

 rather astonished, I thought, to 

 find my hand covering the little 

 home. But she was not in the 

 least afraid, and, forcing her way 

 between my slightly parted 

 fingers, went onto her eggs in 

 the dark. 



Presently she went away 

 again, and again I put my hand 

 over the nest, this time with 

 the fingers pressed firmly to- 

 gether. When she returned she 

 flew boldly up to me, but, find- 

 ing that she could not get between my fingers, she hopped over the back of 

 my hand, along my arm to the shoulder, and then flew to a nearby twig 

 where she sat and scolded in a tone which left no doubt as to her opinion of 

 me. Her mate, who had been busy preaching in a large maple tree, now 

 joined her, and ga\'e me to understand that he entirely agreed with her. Of 

 course, I apologized and removed my hand and back she came and took up 

 her domestic duties. No doubt it was pure imagination on my part but it 

 seemed as if she looked at me with just a touch of self-satisfaction at having 

 gained her point. 



In order to photograph her I temporarily tied back the leaves which shaded 



ONE OF MV FRIENDS MEKTING IMADAME VIREO 



