244 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



a view to giving the eggs the full benefit of the mother's care, I 

 carefully removed the cowbird's egg. But shortly after, on 

 her return, the keen-eyed mother discovered the change and 

 after deliberation with her mate they flew away together, never 

 to return to the nest. 



A red-eyed vireo's nest which I found in the orchard attached 

 to a branch of an apple tree is shown in the illustration. The 

 birds left this nest on July twenty-fifth. What remembrances 

 of summer it recalls! Now, as I look upon the treasure, it 

 brings to mind the bird period full of cares, transformations. 



The nest of the Red-eyed Vireo, showing superb bird architecture 



perilous risks, and sweet songs, that join to form part of the 

 bird's life. And tenderly do I cherish the recollection of the 

 little red-eyed vireo's family in their orchard home. 



During the cold Spring of 1907, the delayed appearance of 

 the leaves caused many of the small birds to be unusually 

 exposed to the attacks of hawks. An incident of this kind which 

 I noticed comes vividly to mind. One morning I was comment- 

 ing on a male brown thrasher, which was singing one of its 

 glorious songs on a tree just opposite the doorway of our quarters, 

 when suddenly its song ceased and instead a series of distressing 

 screams rang out from the same direction, Not a moment did 

 I lose in an effort to find out the cause. A sharp-shinned 

 hawk was seen bearing the bird off slantingly into the country 



