248 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Illinois. The bird, while setting on her eggs, was well protected 

 by the beautiful mottled brown and gray markings on her 



back against the leafy background. 

 As I approached nearer to the 

 bird, she tried her utmost to 

 decoy iiie away from the spot 

 by feigning injury to her 

 wing". The two eggs were 

 quite inconspicuous also, 

 being nearly white, marked 

 by lilac tracings and brown- 

 ish splashes, which helped 

 them to blend with the 

 surrounding. In contrast 

 with the whip-poor-will, 

 our other bird of twilight 

 deposits her eggs in an 

 open meadow or field. 



A Tragedy in the 

 Dunes 



One forenoon in May I 

 strolled to the top of a 

 moderate sized sand ridge 

 among the Indiana dunes, 

 taking in the sights of 

 nature about me. The 

 sandy waste of ground sup- 

 ported a few pines and a 

 rather thick growth of small 

 black oak, which, under 

 the warmth of the spring 

 weather, were just leafing 

 out in a blaze of red. The 

 birds were abundant and 

 active after a period of slow migration. Among these arrivals 

 my attention was particularly drawn to a house wren, by his 

 gushing, overflowing song. At first he was detected among 



The House Wren's nest in the woods, 



occupied by the White-footed 



Mouse. 



