54 



BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



ing of the wings — a motion similar to that made by 

 young birds wlien begging for food. He, however, 

 made what appeared to be precisely the same move- 

 ments when she perched beside him. 



It was not long 

 before the female be- 

 came so accustomed 

 to the snap of the 

 shutter that in order 

 to prevent her from 

 entering the nest I 

 was forced to rush 

 out from my hiding 

 place ; but at last, 

 apparently becoming 

 desperate, she suc- 

 ceeded in returning 

 to her eggs in spite 

 of my best efforts to 

 prevent her. 



There now ensued 

 a very interesting 

 change in the bird's 

 action. It will be 

 remembered that at 

 first she had left the 

 nest on hearing me 

 approach, while a 

 light tap brought her through the opening with 

 startling promptness. But now, evidently realizing 

 that a return to her duties of incubation could 

 be made only at great risk, she determined under no 

 conditions to leave her eggs. In vain I rapped at 



27. Chick .idee at nest hole. 



