126 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



nest was about seven feet from the ground and was occupied by the 

 owner when it was found. As usual with these birds she showed great 

 persistency and refused to leave the nest until Ihad pulled the branch 

 down to a level with my eyes. This apparent lack of fear might be 

 attributed to any one of three conditions — desire to protect her treas- 

 ures; a belief that her somber plumage renders her invisible; or to 

 stupidity. I have not yet been able to determine which of these con- 

 ditions influences them, and it may be a combination of all three. At 

 times we admire their bravery, and at other we deplore the foolishness 

 that leads them to allow their enemies to approach within reaching dis- 

 tance. Some claim to exert a personal influence over the birds and 

 that the latter can recognize their friends from enemies. T have never 

 seen any one who could demonstrate that he had more influence over 

 the actions of wild birds than any one else, and I am sure that one per- 

 son can approach as closely to a bird as another, provided that he does 



*a| ^/"^^^^ 



Wii''^ 















NEST AND EGGS OF CEDAR BIRD. 



Photo by J. B. Pardee. 



