48 



AN EXAMPLE OF BIRD-SHREWDNESS. 



when thus surprised, the mother runs from her nest with the silence and 

 celerity of a mouse, rarely losing her presence of mind. 



These nests are not, however, invariably domed like old-fashioned 

 ovens in miniature. Now and then the shrewd bird so takes advantage 

 of a sheltering rock, or the protection of a projecting root, where no su- 

 perstructure would be necessary to its concealment, that it is saved this 

 trouble and builds no dome ; and I think that the roof of a nest, unshel- 

 tered by any rock or root, must be intended as a guard against the eyes 

 of enemies rather than any shield from the weather. The fact that nests 

 built in very thick woods are frequently left uncovered supports this be- 

 lief. Dr. T. M. Brewer tells pleasantly how his daughter, then a child four 

 years of age, discovered such a one. It was built in a depression in the 

 ground, and its top was completely covered by the natural growth of sur- 

 rounding vines and wild-flowers. Although the little girl and her father 

 were standing with their feet almost upon the nest, the warbler remained 

 sitting quietly until the child stooped to pluck the flowers growing di- 

 rectly over its entrance; then the bird darted out, and fluttered and tum- 

 bled about with well-feigned manoeuvres to distract attention from her 

 treasures. The child, in great glee, tried to catch it, but of course failed ; 

 while the father, wiser in the ways of birds, stooped to examine the nest 

 and saw that it had no other cover than the wild plants that naturally 

 clustered above it. 



