54 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 
ing of the wings—a motion similar to that made by 
young birds when 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 
