74 
BIRDS 
vacious conversation of a well-bred lady 
of the world, that commands respect. 
Her maternal instinct, also, is very 
strong, and that simple structure of dead 
twigs and dry .grass is the centre of much 
anxious solicitude. Not long since, while 
strolling through the woods, my atten¬ 
tion was attracted to a small, densely 
grown swamp, hedged in with Eglantine, 
Brambles, and the everlasting Smilax, 
from which proceeded loud cries of dis¬ 
tress and alarm, indicating that some ter¬ 
rible calamity was threatening my som¬ 
bre-colored minstrel. On effecting an en¬ 
trance, which, however, was not accom¬ 
plished till 1 had doffed coat and hat, so 
as to diminish the surface exposed to the 
thorns and brambles, and looking around 
me from a square yard of terra firma, I 
found myself the spectator of a loath¬ 
some, yet fascinating scene. Three or 
four yards from me was the nest, beneath 
which, in long festoons, rested a huge 
black snake; a bird, two thirds grown, 
was slowly disappearing between his ex¬ 
panded jaws. As they seemed uncon¬ 
scious of my presence, I quietly observed 
