Notes from Field and Study 



205 



a few feet, alif>lits. Just before it descends 

 the bird utters, in rapid repetition, a series 

 of notes that are almost an exact imitation 

 of the call of the Spotted Sandpiper. One 

 individual was observed singing while on 

 the ground. 



It was observed that the length of the 

 bird's flights varied from one-half of one 

 minute to more than three minutes. In 

 England, it is said, when the sky is clear 

 the bird will remain in the air for twenty 

 minutes at a time. — Isaac Hii.dersee, Neiv 

 York City. 



A Venturesome Titmouse 



I have been greatly surprised at the recent 

 performances of a Tufted Titmouse, locally 

 called Tomtit. For several days he was 

 noticed to be disturbing the slumbers of the 

 house-dog ( a long-haired Shepherd) — flying 

 around him, and following him to the porch. 

 When the dog was fast asleep the bird would 

 make a dive at him, with surticient force to 

 awaken and irritate the dog. We did not 

 immediately understand that it was the dog's 

 hair that the bird wanted. 



A member of the household followed the 

 pair of Tomtits to a little ravine back of the 

 house, where the trees are closely entwined 

 with wild grape-vines — hoping to get a look 

 at the nesting place, — making herself as 

 inconspicuous and unmovable as possible. 

 The Tomtit soon observed her and began 

 to fly around her, lit several times on her 

 shoulder, and finally gave several vigorous 

 pulls at her hair. Yesterday two members 

 of the household went to the spot and seated 

 themselves some distance apart. The Tom- 

 tit soon appeared to recognize the brown 

 costume and brown hair of his former visi- 

 tor, boldly approached, lit on the young 

 woman's back (she insists it was the same 

 bird), braced himself, put back his head (so 

 says the companion), and pulled with all 

 his might at her back hair, which he suc- 

 ceeded in partially pulling down. — S. B. 

 Brodhead, Spring Station, Ky. 



A Sensible Cardinal 



A pair of Cardinals built this spring in a 

 honeysuckle at the side of a neighbor's 



porch. The first egg was not laid until 

 April 17, two weeks after the nest was 

 finished, owing to the belated spring, I sup- 

 pose. The second and third eggs were laid 

 on the following two days. On the 20th, 

 the day after the third egg was laid, a heavy 

 snow fell, beginning early in the morning 

 and continuing until noon. The female 

 retained her place on the nest until about 

 ten o'clock, when either hunger or the unu- 

 sual atmospheric conditions caused her to 

 leave it. When she returned, perhaps fif- 

 teen minutes later, the nest was full of snow, 

 to the brim. She exhibited signs of distress 

 and began to eat the snow, greedily, to get 

 rid of it. Occasionally she got on to the 

 nest, as if to press the snow out. By even- 

 ing, between eating and melting the snow 

 with the heat of her body, the nest was clear 

 again. After this long submergence in snow 

 and snow-water, we all supposed, of course, 

 that the eggs were hopelessly chilled. The 

 mother-bird differed with us, however, and 

 continued to incubate; and on May i one 

 egg hatched. — Ei.more Elliott Peake, 

 Salem. III. 



Taming a Robin 



A Robin buili this spring in an apple- 

 tree of a neighbor's, about six feet from the 

 ground. When first approached she would 

 quietly leave the nest, but after a few trials 

 of this kind she resolutely stuck to her post. 

 If touched she would shrink to the further 

 edge and peck at one's fingers. Eventually, 

 however, she ceased to show fear, and 

 would tamely allow herself to be stroked. 

 Later, when the eggs were hatched, she 

 would sit on the edge of the nest while I 

 fed earthworms to the young, and would 

 occasionally reach out for one hciself. She 

 would sit for fifteen minutes at a time on 

 the edge of the nest and allow me to stroke 

 either back or breast, and even to extend 

 her wing its full length. Moreover, any 

 stranger could take the same liberties. The 

 male, however, looked with a disapproving 

 eye on these familiarities, and kept at a 

 distance. Such tameness may not be unu- 

 sual, but it never came under my observa- 

 tion before. — Elmore Elliott Peake, 

 Salem, III. 



