AMEBJCAN OBNITIIOLOGY. ■ 127 



not by his actions show that he is intending to shy a stone at them. 



This pair of Cedar Birds made an unfortunate choice of a nesting 

 site, for they had built their house on two separate crossing branches. 

 Every time the wind blew their house was rocked to and fro, and the 

 contents were in imminent danger of being spilled out. As we did not 

 wish this calamity to happen we fastened the branches firmly together, 

 and then as an additional precaution tied the nest more firmly to the 

 branches. Probably the birds did not appreciate this kindness, but un- 

 doubtedly it was the means of saving the lives of the young as will be 

 seen later. While we were busy making over their home as we thought 

 it should be, both birds were perched upon the topmost branch of the 

 tree uttering their feeble protests. 



It was twenty days before we again visited the nest and when we 

 were a long way off we could see that the nest was there all right, and 

 that the adults were now busy in feeding the young. They both left 

 the nest as we approached and flew about overhead until they calmed 

 down sufficiently to alight upon their observation twig and watch to see 

 what we were about. As soon as the branch was touched, up flew four 

 heads with wide open mouths, the blood red color of the interior of 

 which is so different from other young, birds. They were repulsive 

 looking objects, with just a suspicion of pin feathers appearing on the 

 wings. As soon as they found that no food was forthcoming, they sub- 

 sided and cuddled down in the bottom of the nest while we were mak- 

 ing our preparations. 



The limbs were tied down to a large stone so as to bring the nest at 

 a height of about five feet from the ground; all intervening branches 

 were tied to one side and a thread attached to the one that shaded the 

 nest from the sun. After seeing that the picture was satisfactory on 

 the ground glass, we retired to the other side of the stone wall. Later 

 it was found that neither one of the birds would come near the nest 

 when we were on the same side of the wall and in sight of them, but as 

 soon as we were concealed behind the wall, the female did not hesitate 

 to return to the nest and after a time she persuaded or commanded her 

 mate to do the same. Although they could see us whenever they flew 

 out from the tree, they did not seem to be afraid, nor were they, scared 

 by the camera. Their only fear seemed to be that we would see them 

 when they went to feed the young. 



After they had found that we had not harmed their little ones, the 

 female flew away after food, leaving the male on guard. Upon her re- 

 turn, the two parents talked matters over for a few minutes, and then 

 she slyly hopped down, branch by branch until she was beside the nest. 

 Although to all appearances she had brought no food, she had a plenti- 



