-V" 
OF BIRD LIFE 
ing like a trip-hammer, nearly betrayed me. After about fif- 
v J. X 
teen minutes, the worst I had passed through in my life, the 
snake moved on. Satisfied with his scrutiny, he glided leisurely 
away. I picked up my rifle and vowed that he would never 
bother anyone again. Taking careful aim, although the sight 
w 
was somewhat shaky before my eyes, I fired, hitting him 
!l dj 
the head. After quivering a few moments, in which 
• h 
’ \ 
711 
w 
his tail thrashed about wildly, he stretched his full length and 
X 
lay still. I left him lying where he fell, and bothered no more 
about him. The morning had well advanced, so I quickly got 
out of the woods and made for home. 
About two weeks after my acquaintance with the “reddest 
red bird” I had ever seen, I approached the nest, and found to 
my delight that it had been usurped by four tiny, hungry birds, 
who kept their parents busy supplying them with food. In a 
few weeks they were old enough to leave the nest, and four more 
red beauties were added to our neighborhood to help cheer us up 
during the long Winter months. 
( 
On many a green branch swinging. 
Little birdlets singing 
Warble sweet notes in the air. 
Flowers fair 
There I found. 
Green spread the meadow all around. 
Vs 
[ 44 ] 
Nit hart. 
- liM ra 
w 
