THE INVITATION 209 
Most birds exhibit great alarm and distress, usually 
with a strong dash of anger, when you approach 
their nests; but the demeanor of the red-eyed, on 
such an occasion, is an exception to this rule. The 
parent birds move about softly amid the branches 
above, eying the intruder with a curious, innocent 
look, uttering, now and then, a subdued note or 
plaint, solicitous and watchful, but making no dem- 
onstration of anger or distress. 
The birds, no more than the animals, like to be 
caught napping; but I remember, one autumn day, 
of coming upon a red-eyed vireo that was clearly 
oblivious to all that was passing around it. It was 
a young bird, though full grown, and it was taking 
its siesta on a low branch in a remote heathery 
field. Its head was snugly stowed away under its 
wing, and it would have fallen an easy prey to the 
first hawk that came along. I approached noise- 
lessly, and when within a few feet of it paused to 
note its breathings, so much more rapid and full 
than our own. A bird has greater lung capacity | 
than any other living thing, hence more animal 
heat, and life at a higher pressure. When I reached 
out my hand and carefully closed it around the | 
winged sleeper, its sudden terror and consternation | 
almost paralyzed it. Then it struggled and cried 
piteously, and when released hastened and hid itself 
in some near bushes. I never expected to surprise 
it thus a second time. 
The flycatchers are a larger group than the vireos, 
with stronger-marked characteristics. They are not 
