266 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



Flying down, fluttering along near the ground, she artfully 

 feigned being injured in an attempt to attract and divert my 

 attention. I cut away carefully some of the branches which 

 obstructed the view of the little ones, 

 and then made one photo- 

 graphic exposure. On preparing 

 for the second picture, the topmost 

 baby bird, without the shghtest 

 warning, made a headlong dive to the 

 ground. The bush containing the 

 nest and birds was one of a long 

 row of black raspberry shrubs 

 and they obstructed the 

 view on the opposite side 

 where the bird fell. As 

 quickly as possible I made 

 haste to recover the little 

 adventurer. 



This attempt was not 

 a moment too soon, 

 for, to my amazement, 

 two large chickens, 

 which had noticed 

 the helpless bird, 

 rushed at it and vi- 

 ciously picked at the 

 tiny waif which by this 

 time was crying loudly. 

 My endeavor at rescue 

 seemed only to annoy one 

 of the fowls which, having 

 grown bold, dashed in 

 Field Sparrow with nest and young bird, ahead of me, and having 



picked up the defenceless 

 bird in its bill, started off on a run with it. By this time a well- 

 aimed throw of my hat, which landed broadside near the chicken, 

 frightened it so that it dropped its prey. The little bird was 

 found practically uninjured, though had it remained much longer 

 in sight of these ravenous fowls it would undoubtedly have 



