203 



of the Cowbird. A week later I returned and. when at a 

 distance of about ten feet, I could see her little bead-like 

 eyes and black and white striped face. The nest was sunk 

 among the leaves at the base of the stump and was well 

 arched over so that it was very difficult to see even when the 

 exact location was known. She sat perfectly still and I 

 approached very, very slowly carrying a camera, already 



Fig. 172. Four of the five little ones; the other could not be 

 found. 



set on its tripod, before me. I managed to plant it so that 

 the lens was but three feet from her without causing her to 

 leave. Then still more slowly, at the same time trying to 

 reassure her with bird-like chirps (that perhaps did not 

 sound much like a bird), I leaned forward and removed 

 some objectionable grasses that were between the lens and 

 her and finally lifted the arch a trifle so that she could be 

 seen to better advantag-e. She was fri2;htened. for she 



