248 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
interest, creating a taste for these things which 
has never flagged through life. In this way, 
long before any treatises on ornithology had 
been read, quite an accurate knowledge of this 
department of natural history had been gained ; 
so that in most cases a sight of an egg was 
quite sufficient to determine the species of bird 
to which it belonged and the general condi¬ 
tions of the nest in which it was found. 
“ One of these bird-nesting experiences will 
never be forgotten, because it was a most seri¬ 
ous matter at first, and has been a laughable 
reminiscence ever since. The day had been 
spent with more than usual success, and the 
homeward route was taken with a collection 
of speckled treasures richer than had ever be¬ 
fore been obtained. Like most suddenly-ac¬ 
quired riches, there was a little uneasiness of 
conscience as to some of the methods used in 
the acquisitions. Two rare nests had been 
found in the thick underbrush of the swamp, 
those of the blue-winged and the black-throat¬ 
ed warblers; and the temptation was so great 
in one case that three out of the four eggs were 
taken as dainty trophies. Being so absorbed in 
collecting the treasures found, the passing hours 
