LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN O90. The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L161— O-1096 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2021 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign https://archive.org/details/camerastudiesotwO0Oreed_0 From a painting YOUNG BLUE JAYS CAMERA STUDIES WILD BIRDS IN THEIR HOMES BY CHESTER A. REED, B. S. Author of “Land Birds,’ “Water Birds,” “Flower Guide,” “Nature Studies,’ North American Birds’ Eggs,” ete. With More Than 200 Illustrations From Photographs of Living Wild Birds Cuas. K. ReEeEp, Worcester, Mass. 1911 Copyrighted 1911 Chas. K. Reed, Worcester, Mass. ILLING#s how bn U ye PREFACE Although I had previously made many photographs in which living birds formed either the chief or a secondary object of the picture, it was in the year nineteen hundred that my first real efforts in the line of bird photography were made. The paths of camera-hunters in this line are not by any means strewn with roses. I have had my share of the necessary hard work, hardships, sometimes dangers, disappointments and the many failures to be expected. On the other hand, I have as results about two thousand good negatives and several thousand others not satisfactory to me but still passably good. Success or failure depends practically upon the dispo- sitions of the individual birds selected as subjects. If they are willing,—you get the picture; if not,—you pack up your outfit and depart, chalking down another failure. I have been very fortunate in this respect for “my” birds have nearly always proved very tractable; what failures I have recorded have been due chiefly to the fact that I was not willing to cause undue suffering to the little birds either from lack of food or too long exposure to hot sun- rays. I have always worked upon the principle that no bird photograph is worth even the risk of destruction to a nest of little birds. I speak of this because I wish to im- press upon all my readers who may undertake bird pho- tography that pictures must always take a place secondary to the welfare of the little birds. A few minutes exposure to hot rays of a burning sun may prove fatal to young birds;—therefore always when possi- ble have them shaded. Digestion, in a young bird, takes place very rapidly; an hour without food may prove fatal to a very young bird,—therefore do not be the means of causing the parents to withhold food from the little ones for long at a time. Changing the location of a nest even but a short distance may cause the owners to desert it or may leave it exposed to attacks from cats, squirrels or other enemies,—therefore do not for any reason remove a nest from its original site. I have selected, as far as possible, pictures in series show- ing the various happenings at nests of the different birds. Unfortunately limited space will not permit of showing my large series of sea birds and birds of prey, so I have selected chiefly the more common song and insectivorous birds. Every half-tone shown is from a photograph of an au- thentic nest in its original location as chosen by the bird or of living, free, wild birds. The majority of these are of my own making, but to fill in series I have used a few that have been published in American Ornithology. I wish to give credit to the makers of these as follows: G. C. Embody, Fig. 13. C. A. Smith, Fig. 105-6, 83. A. R. Dugmore, Fig. 104, 212. . E. Moulthrope, Fig. ue S-5Oss250. oHeMillerc Higa ts0: 252, ga ee Neg BB . E. Seebold, Fig. 84-5. . H. Beebe, Fig. 114, 234, 242, 62, 67, 257, 189, 85-6. . E. Hess, Fig. 248-9, 93. . L. Bickford, Fig. 166. . M. Schreck, Fig. 238, 246-7. . R. Spaid, Fig. 69, 70, 130. . J. Meyer, Fig. 199. . S. Horton, Fig. 97, 8 . R. Miller, Fig. 135-6, 48, 51. ah stone, bigs hinos: pheoWith, Hine iasel2s, . D. Wheedon, Fig. 250, 112. oR aS aise sigma CONTENTS MEET C LON Mere oteta wlth og hc Potes, Aeltsds aceae acct a ais 7 DIBDESTUDIES IN BLACK AND WHITE .... 0... -se5s« 9 ntieswiulckadee (15 illustrations) 22:2 i.e ens ss 9 litee Nuthatchs(iSsillustrations) 9.02.7 646 ware 2s 21 /EISs ARYOUOR OTN CR eb rym (rte ar ara anes ea em ea 31 Wiinince Van wiltacs illustrations), . cas. fou ase a = 31 NMIOUtM A wien tei UStLTAtiOnS,): wi ce wees. ks tes) ale 36 Wali p=poOor-wille{ 3 1ustratlous ie. <20j.5- «leu sin- 43 ipcemo wallowen cle lustration wc. «hee a tn arc es « 46 Ata Lowa Gera USEPAtIONS yer. c Us. t. 72, es» AT RCM ASON Set aot Peattee stg Posi sete iy oyacsr os eys «easel 51 POCDEem Oe clr atlons We tata cleo writer 51 Barigoyallow g.octlustrations) ©. a... sc: cw dain dw 59 PLE CATO KRG meee tent g ee tec. he. hi sry spel anda 2 yc) Pa woh 65 Sicbecmcien LUstrariona) Mrere re cc oe 65 ETE atALtml ool Stra tiOua mea mie er. 1at0) ena. fetes og 69 Da ae RIES ANIC LUE BIRDS Ria. oie viele oes foe ass wes 75 liebe ei UuStratlons eestier, ies. cies. weal weer 75 Slee Ayer] P1LIUSLTALIONS iaketietn ee bie see's ths «conte 82 REGreeCOMEREDSILTOMEG soso ute a ie ac Oe ch abe%y fuss us se pe 91 inn obirda (ae istrations)) me enn sists ses aces 91 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1 illustration) .......... 07 Byocielewecsl let oslration eee atte Stas 98 PPse TEED EES ON GSTERS ge ia aarege. te wie o (dsvaNe ats eighere: aig sta s esos 103 Goidunchece Wlustratiqns) a5 cg fee eons sete = 101 obra (el bel Mietralions,) | 4 pitied cece > 103 Nieenvn | Ail liistrations \irn-ci- nomen nc lively cetreeit ose 117 DVoods Lhriarshs CSeillistrations )5.sws «tes sce ss 123 Pres ang atlitistratlOligy) wee yet, pce it tech te a: out oe 125 PatiirdecOclliustrations jac udeee cee awed: Wk teee s 130 browilelorasnern (eilitistPations eee wet. a ocra. 135 eA EDSC EM ALISEN CIM: cr telsae ole aca eit rettce tacit 28 ce wee cat, 143 PeHALOITOMCSmILUIStratlold erat ste tates. -cames 143 Me koode ay 1st rations ) pros... Nis yee mea te nee 152 ONLY SPARROWS inci fee so nd cis «ities pee Chipping Sparrow (10 illustrations) ........... Song Sparrow (2 illustrations) ..............-: Field. Sparrow (4 illustrations) ..............5% Grasshopper Sparrow (1 illustration) .......... THe IMPOSTER |... ' oi. sts bes pie oles 220s ise er Maryland Yellow-throat .....-°...... 72.) .sem Cowbird -G5eillustrations ), 0.5 ..).05 2.5 eee Carolina’ Wren ‘(1 illustration)”. ~~ 5 7a... FEATHERED, TYRANTS 2ic05 secs 029 00s «6 oe es ee Kingbird (10 illustrations) =2- >.<. -..3 7) eee Arkansas Kingbird (1 illustration) ............. Rocky Mountain Jay (2 illustrations)........... Loggerhead Shrike (6 illustrations) ............ THe “Woop-HE Wine «<0 5. er ks ee ee Flicker (4) illustrations): 2...) 5400) ace Red-headed Woodpecker (2 illustrations) ....... Sapsucker (2 illustrations) .:: ca...) = =e How Birp PuHoToGRAPHS ARE MADE..............-. T NDE XK 32% -Fos ois bs 0.0 0sc.8 eae se ven te INTRODUCTION. Very few persons as they look at pictures in magazines or in books ever give an instant’s thought as to the time, the patience or perhaps hardships the photographer might have endured in the making of them. With the general public, the prevalent idea is that anyone with a camera of any kind can take a “‘snap-shot” of anything and get a good picture. As a matter of fact, very few good pictures of any subject are ever secured by the commonly accepted “snap-shot’’ method. Some thought and study, even though it be done almost instantly, must be given as to the composi- tion and the probable appearance of the finished picture. I have done nearly all kinds of photography,—land- scape, marine, portraiture, pet animals, press photography (which is very exacting), etc. I do not believe that any other class of photography offers the difficulties or has as large a percentage of failures as will be encountered by one who essays photographing living, wild birds. Some of the pictures that follow were obtained with the greatest of ease but they were of exceptional birds and I am duly thankful to them for the consideration they showed me. Others represent hours and even days of hard work and frequent disappointments. It was only by the very narrowest margin that the taking of one of the series shown did not lead to the printing of my obituary. In the last chapter I give some details that may be of assistance to those who wish to make pictures of birds. I only speak of the difficulties here so that those who scan the pictures on the succeeding pages may not think one can grab up a camera, rush to the woods and take pictures of birds offhand. Just remember that more than seventy-five per cent. of the adult birds, whose pictures are shown, were between three and four feet from the lens of the camera and figure out how many birds you ever approached as closely as that. yma 9 BIRD STUDIES IN BLACK AND WHITE THE CHICKADEE We were wending our way along a narrow country lane, hedged in on either side by stone walls and bushes, when a clear “‘phe-be,”’ whistled in that high-pitched, clear tone. such as only the Chickadee can produce, attracted our atten- tion. A few steps more we went, and the song suddenly zeased and changed to a series of “dee-dee-dee’s” uttered Fig. 2,5 NEST OF CHICKADEE. Part of stump removed to show the twelve eggs,--a very un- usual number. In a birch stub, barely two feet above ground. 10 Fig. 3. MADAM CHICKADEE AND HER HOME, She has a green caterpillar in her beak; as it was a lively one, she has beaten iton a branch until it is mis-shapen and nearly dead. as rapidly as they could come from the throat of an angry bird. It. was very evident that we were uncomfortably near her home, but in which direction it was, we did not know and, had she been wise and remained silent, we probably never would have known. She came down very close to us and we saw that she had her beak filled to the brim with iia plant lice. How she could retain her grip upon them and still ““dee-dee”’ so vigorously was a mystery, but the sound poured forth as rapidly from between her closed mandibles as it did later after she had deposited the food where it belonged. Naturally, with a mother bird anxious to feed her babies, to help us, it required but a few minutes to locate the nest in a small dead tree beside the wall. Violent as had been her protestations when we first found her, she soon became quite reconciled to our presence and, in a short time, was one of the tamest birds with which I have had to deal. For the next three or four hours we camped out right be- side her home and, from the protection of a small tent, made a number of negatives of her and her mate going back and Fig. 4. FATHER CHICKADEE AND HIS LOAD. He was more shy than his mate and watched the tent closely each time before entering. 07 9NOQY St 7YHL4 9Y) UO 9UO ay) pun fivnnv unoy fipnasy aany way? Jo om) tsmo7zjaj fiyaay avam fiayy °*G ‘38iq 13 forth. The little birds were fed, on an average, about once in every four minutes, the adults timing their visits so that one was nearly always present. Mrs. Chickadee nearly always brought a load of tiny insects, most often plant lice,—so smal] that she must have brought from twenty to forty at each trip. Her mate was a philosopher, or it may have been that he was simply lazy, for he always brought single, large, white grubs, which certainly must have been easier to collect and perhaps were more filling than quantities of mites. Fig. 6. She was not timid and always lit on the side of the branch nearest the tent, as though to shield her little ones. In order to see the little Chickadees, we made the opening to the nest a little larger. We found that they were pretty large “‘little Chickadees” for the only difference in appear- ance they showed from their parents was in abbreviated tail feathers. There were six of them, five of which were very capable of short flights; in fact one slipped through my fingers and got away before I had a chance to see how large they were. When we decided to arrange the five little fellows, tha‘ still remained, on a stick so that we might picture their par- 14 ents feeding them, I knew that we would have our hands more than full; and my expectations were fully realized. Mother Chickadee ought to have been very proud of her children, and undoubtedly she was. They obeyed every command from her, and she called “jump” (in bird lan- guage) just as often as we placed them in position to suit us. If it were possible to obtain a little knowledge of bird Fig. 7. A SEXTETTE OF CHICKADHEES, Try as we would we could not persuade more than six of the dozen to pose for their pictures. language, I would give considerable to know just the sounds that mean “keep still.” We finally got the pictures we wanted, but we earned them, and surely the little fellows earned the freedom that we allowed them as soon as we had made two exposures. 15 I have found and photographed several other families of Chickadees, one nest of which contained twelve eggs. I think this is about a record number and certainly it is more than these birds should have had, for the birch stump was so small that the eggs were arranged in tiers. They did, however, succeed in raising the entire family success- fully. When the little fellows were most ready to leave home, they filled the stump from the bottom of the cavity to Fig. 8. Father Chickadee often made the mistake of alighting at the wrong side. It is the two little birdies at the left that are to be fed this time. the top. Those at the bottom were continually pushing their way up in order to get fed in their turn,—a perfect cir- culation of young Chickadees. One summer, Mr. E. H. Forbush, well known in orni- thological circles, wrote me that if I would appear with my Fig. 9. MR, FORBUSH WATCHING HIS CHICKADEE, This bird repeatedly lit on the side, and top of the nesting box, went in and fed her little ones while Mr. Forbush was watching them through the glass front. From a paiting BLUEBIRD NATURA a \ N Wen ANY From a patntiirg CHIPPING SPARROW Fig. 10. A close view of the male bird about to enter the nest- ing box. camera he could promise me a bird treat. The next day I arrived at his house and was shown the home of a pair of Chickadees in a bird box attached to the sill of a second story shed window. It probably was the first successful at- tempt to induce these little birds to utilize a box attached to a dwelling. a Ces TEE z as Fig. 11. They appreciate the winter lunch counter provided by bird lovers. Fig. 12. They are quite fearless in winter and occasionally feed trom the hand. 19 The back of the box facing the window, was removable, so that all that transpired, as the parents fed the five little birds, could be plainly watched at a distance of but two feet. The value of a family of these birds on the premises is easily seen from the fact that all shrubs and plants about the house were kept entirely free from plant lice during the season. . et & ‘s & a i. Fig. 18. Cavities in orchard trees make fine nesting places. You will notice, by one of the accompanying pictures, that the Chickadees were not in the least afraid, but came and went even though they were being watched at close range. The little ones left the nest shortly after this pic- ture was taken, flying first to Mr. Forbush’s shoulder, then to his hat and thence out into the wide, wide world. Chickadees can easily be induced to remain about farm houses in summer if they are occasionally fed during the winter, when food is scarce or difficult to obtain. Even if the orchard contains no trees with decayed limbs, in which they can nest, they will remain if you wire short scctions of decayed birches to some of the trees. Fig. 14. A piece of suet is just the thing for Chickadees on cold wintry days. Fig. 15. A white-breasted Nuthatch and the bountiful repast of nuts and suet provided for him by a human friend. 21 Fig. 16. Does a Nuthatch like nuts? Note the inverted posi- tion. These birds love to be head downward. WHITE-BREASTED NuTHATCH Here is an acrobat worthy of notice. Apparently in de- fiance of all laws of gravity, he nimbly runs down tree trunks head-foremost, with never a falter. To him, the un- der side of a limb is just as secure a resting place as the top. A very close watch of his movements will show how he is able to get into such unbalanced positions; one foot is carried well forward under his breast but the other is reached back and grasps the bark behind so he can progress downward in a series of quick hitches. LOVIIUL BY7 MOYS 07 PaQnowas Qui2) ayZ JO W0NI08 F ANOH HOLVHLON GHL ‘LT ‘31 yreeyecinnnan bi ntatinniovieertnoneaneeti 23 Most of the nuthatch nests I have found have been lo- cated in holes in large chestnut trees, from twenty to fifty feet from the ground and of course, entirely unsuited for photographic purposes. Finally a pair was located breed- ing in a decayed limb of an apple tree very near a farm house and only about six feet from the ground. At the bot- tom of the cavity, on a soft bed of grasses and feathers, lay five, delicate eggs covered with reddish brown specks. The male was very attentive to his mate while she was sitting upon her eggs and often carried tempting grubs to her. Again he would slide down the limb just above her Fig. 18. IN AN OLD APPLE TREE. Fig. 19. CLEANING THE NEST. Note the male bird in the rear. Fig, 20. FATHER NUTHATCH ARRIVES. Fig. 21. The male Nuthatch was a handsome bird with a glossy black crown. and utter a soft “yank, yank”’ until she gave an answering “yank” from within. He did not spend much of his time in the apple tree, for to have done so would have advertised his home too conspiciously, but he was always within sight in the woods across the road. He could often be heard dili- gently hammering to get grubs that were concealed beneath the bark. Fig. 23. The little birds and their parents assumed all man- ner of poses. 27 I often watched him, standing on the shaggy bark of a chestnut tree, pounding away with might and main, some- times putting his bill under an edge of the bark and prying until it seemed as though he might snap his bill in the mid- dle. When hammering they always take their position above their work, just as the human wood-chopper likes to do. Fig. 24. Caterpillars were eaten with a relish. The male nuthatch, known by his glossy black crown, never took a turn at sitting upon the eggs leaving such duties exclusively to his gray-crowned wife. After the eggs hatched he assumed the greater part of the burden of feeding the little ones, coming with food at least twice as often as did his mate. I suspect this was because he was more skillful at uncovering larvae and grubs, and not be- cause of any desire on his part to work more than necessary. Fig. 26. The inconvenience of being in the way when brother’s turn comes. 29 Wig. 27. His children were clamoring to be fed, so loudly that, in his excitement, father stood on one of them. Besides grubs and larvae, the little ones were fed upon many kinds of millers and sometimes upon cracked corn that was picked up in the hen yard. Two weeks after the eggs hatched, the young were nearly large enough to leave the nest. They looked almost like their parents, the males having glossy black crowns, and the females gray ones. The five youngsters were arranged side by side on a small limb and many views taken of the parents as they fed them. Both parents never came to the branch at the same time, though one would often stay in the apple tree and watch while the other one was pushing food into the cavernous mouths. The little birds were very tractable, not behaving at all like the little chickadees. In fact they did not fly from the branch at all, but they were inclined to clamber along it so as to reach the trunk of the tree. 30 The name Nuthatch was given to birds of this family because of their supposed habit of hammering or “hatching” at nuts to get at the meat within, but as far as I know, none of the four species found in the United States ever open nuts of any kind. They are, however, very fond of the kernels and are often fed upon them as well as suet during winter months, by kind-hearted folks. Nuthatches, Chicka- Fig. 28. BROTHER AND SISTER. il the gray crown on the female and the jet black one of the male. dees, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers are usually resident wherever they are found so that, besides the pleasure gained by watching them eat from the table provided for them, they may remain and nest the next summer in the vicinity. Any community that is so fortunate as to be the dwelling place of a number of these birds is to be envied, for they do inestimable good by destroying many insects that ravage shade trees, fruit trees and plants. ° ok AIR SCOUTS. Certain long-winged birds spend a large proportion of their existence a-wing, dashing across the fields, swooping across ponds, skimming over housetops, even sweeping the clouds. These birds may very fittingly be termed “air- scouts, ’—always on the lookout for insect enemies. They are constantly on duty scouring the skies, performing for mankind, in times of peace, services incomparably great- er than those expected of our aeroplane scouts in time of war. CHIMNEY SwIFT One of the most useful of these scouts is a.“‘city dweller.” Chimney Swifts at one time nested only in hollow trees and in caves or crevices in cliffs. To-day for some unac- countable reason they nest almost exclusively within the depths of unused chimneys. We can readily understand why they like to live in cities for there the little gnats and flies they like so well are the most abundant, but it is not so plain why any species of bird should desert the compara- tively clean cavities of decayed trees for the dirty, sooty interiors of brick chimneys. It seems like a retrogressive rather than a progressive development. Swifts return to the northern states about the middle of April each year, but they delay their nest building until early May when the weather is more settled. It is quite necessary that the air be dry when they make their homes for they are held together entirely by glue which does not harden rapidly in damp weather. This glue is made by the swifts from their saliva; it is very hard and almost waterproof when dry. Their nest building is very interesting to watch but it is a slow operation often keeping the two birds busy for a week more. It is made of twigs varying in length from half an inch to a couple inches. They must of necessity be dead twigs for the birds break them from the tips of branches, Fig, 29. CHIMNEY SWIFT, Note how the tail spines assist them in clinging to the upright -surtace. 33 while hovering in the air; I have on numerous occasions seen them secure nesting material in this way but never, except twice, did I see them alight on the ground to pick up pieces. The inside of the chimney, at the point selected, is smeared with glutinous saliva and the little twig covered with the same; each tiny stick is added in this manner un- til the nest projects from the wall for two or three inches and the interior is an inch deep. It makes a very strong little home when properly made. Often, however, they fail to make the front wall sufficiently high so that some of the eggs roll or are pushed out by the sitting bird. The eggs, white and from three to five in number, require incubating for nearly three weeks before they hatch. The young birds remain in the chimney for nearly a month longer before they are able to venture out on their wings. So the nesting of swifts is a slow process requiring about two months, while the ordinary insectivorous bird will get its little ones out of the nest sometimes within a month from the time the foundation was first commenced. Long before the little swifts are able to fly they get exercise by climbing about the inside of their chimney- home. A pair of swifts always built their nest directly op- posite the stove-pipe opening in the chimney of an old country house. I have often removed the cap to look at the eggs or, later, to see the four little swifts clinging to the chimney directly under the nest. They are nimble little things and seldom lose their hold. Sometimes they do, and fall to the bottom of the chimney but, by the aid of the wings, their sharp little claws and their spiney tails, they can climb to the nest again. If you have examined Chim- ney Swifts closely, you probably have noticed that the shafts of the tail feathers project beyond the webs making sharp little spines that are of great assistance to the birds in their manner of living. As it is obviously impossible for a bird to fly upwards in 34 a vertical line and the narrow confines of a chimney would seem to make such flight a necessity, I often used to wonder just how the adult birds left the home. Of course a boy’s curiosity has to be satisfied so one day I removed the board from the front of the old-fashioned fireplace, concealed Fig. 30. NEST OF CHIMNEY SWIFT. Taken by reflected light from a mirror. myself within and watched until my quest for knowledge was satisfied. Their movements were so rapid and the loosened soot would persist in getting in my eyes so much that my research was no easy one. 35 Fig. 31. CHIMNEY SWIFT ON NEST. A little blurred because the bird jumped when the light was flashed on her. The chimney was about eighteen inches in width. Start- ing from the nest, the bird would leap upward, and two strong flaps of the narrow wings would carry him to the opposite wall a little more than a foot above where he start- ed; he just barely touched the side, whirled and two more beats raised him another foot. He only had about fifteen feet to rise before reaching the top and it only took about ten of the rapid side-to-side flights to accomplish it. The return to the nest was more difficult to watch as the birds came dashing down with the speed of a bullet, ap- parently not touching the sides at all. Almost before I could see them coming they would have turned and _ be clinging beside the nest. 36 The rapid twittering of Chimney Swifts is often heard as they wheel about overhead, and the sound is greatly aug- mented when a little swift is about to make his maiden flight into the unknown. All the adults and young in the vicinity gather to celebrate the event and to encourage the little fellow in his attempt. The young swifts get their wings strongly developed before leaving the chimney by flights from side to side, so that they have little to fear as they emerge into the open and follow the others over the house tops. Swifts are used by many as weather prophets and their prognostications seem to come true far more often than those of our government experts. When swifts fly high, fair weather is presumed to follow; when they fly low, look out for rain. Whether they fly high or fly low, however, you may be quite certain that it is not the state of the weather that influences them but means that the food they seek is most abundant at that level. The weather may or may not influence the altitudes at which the winged insects happen to be. NIGHTHAWKs AND WHIP-POOR-WILLS These two birds, often confused with one another by many, are similar in form but distinctive in plumage and very different in habits. I will first note some of the dis- tinctions. Nighthawk has a white throat, white bar across the outer wing feathers, white bar across the middle of the outer tail feathers and the tail a trifle forked (female has the throat and tail bars rather buffy-colored). Whip-poor-will has a black throat, no white on wings, rounded tail and white tips to the outer feathers. These differences in plumage are positive and should distinguish the two whether seen flying or perching. But there are other differences. Fig. 32. NIGHTHAWK. Sitting wpon her eggs on the gravel roof of a city block. 38 Nighthawks fly most at dusk or on cloudy days, frequent- ing open localities or cities; thousands see them every day during the season they are with us. Whip-poor-wills are night birds, frequenting woods and are seen by but compar- atively few persons. The call of the Nighthawk is a rasp- Fig. 33. The male spend daytime sitting lengthwise along limbs and is quite difficult to see. ing, nasal “peenk,” given while flying; that of the Whip- poor-will is a loudly and rapidly whistled “whip-poor-will” often repeated twenty or more times in succession; this song is uttered while perched in the tops of trees. The differences between the two birds are so great that there is really little reason for confusion, whenever or wherever they are seen or heard. .. Nighthawks are past masters in the art of aviation. There are no feats of skill performed by other birds that cannot be equalled by these. During June and July they can 39 Fig. 34. NEST AND EGGS OF NIGHTHAWK. The eggs are laid on the bare surface of a flat stone. 40 usually be seen and heard in great numbers about any large city as they circle high in the air or sweep in graceful curves over the tops of the buildings. In the country they frequent the edges of woods or burned areas where flying insects are the most easily secured. ‘They are very sociable birds and often hunt in large flocks. I have watched fully a hundred of them at a time as they swept back and forth across a large field, curving, skimming and cavorting about in a perfect maze; with never a falter they crossed and re- crossed paths, each seeming to read the other's mind per- . fectly so that imminent collisions were always averted. Nighthawk bills are very small but the mouth opens to a point below the eyes so that the gape is enormous. Their food is entirely caught while on the wing,—either by snap- ping up individual moths or beetles or by dashing through swarms of gnats, with wide-open mouths gathering them in by the hundreds. During the mating season the males often perform won- derful evolutions in the air. Sometimes they make perpen- dicular descents from high altitudes shooting downwards with folded wings at bullet-like speed and turning upward so suddenly that the air rushing through their wings pro- duces a hollow “booming.” On a warm, still evening during early June and the latter part of May, these “boomings”’ may very frequently be heard. Although so exceedingly expert in aerial evolutions, Nighthawks are very awkward when on the ground. Their small, weak feet give them a very wobbly gait so that they often require the services of their wings to keep their bal- ance. When roosting on the limbs of trees and fence rails they almost invariably sit lengthwise, their mottled plumage and motionless attitudes rendering them very inconspicious. They build no nest at all,—just lay their two mottled eggs on the bare ground, usually choosing a small sandy spot in a pasture or in very open woods; frequently they are laid in hollows on rocks or even (very commonly) on Fig. 35. NIGHTHAWK ON ITS NEST. Note that it is not at all conspicuous, Sometimes they can be touched before they will fly. 42 flat gravel roofs of city blocks. The eggs resemble the peb- bles so closely that it is difficult to see them. A friend knowing that I am always ready to go almost anywhere to secure a good bird picture, came and informed me that a Nighthawk was sleeping on his roof every day; that it sat behind a certain chimney and would allow him to approach within a few feet before flying. I thought it strange that he made no mention of seeing the eggs, but I went along and, sure enough, the bird, a female Nighthawk, was just where he said it would be. When we were about four feet distant it sailed easily away over the surrounding roofs. My friend watched the bird until it disappeared Sn then turned to me with a self-satisfied air saying: “I knew it would be here; strange that it comes to the same building to roost every day, isn’t it?” He could hardly believe his eyes when I showed him the two eggs the bird had been covering. He had started this bird off at least half a dozen times and had not noticed them. If the bird is flushed from the eggs when incubation is well advanced, she will attempt to lead the intruder away by feigning lameness,—a very easy matter for a Nighthawk as they progress very awkwardly on the ground anyway. Young Nighthawks are first covered with fine down but, unlike most birds that are so clothed, they move about in- differently on their feet. One or the other of the parents sits beside them during the day and they are not fed until between dusk and daylight. WHIP-POOR-WILL Unless disturbed, Whip-poor-wills pass the whole day dozing on horizontal limbs or upon fallen tree trunks. They are even more averse to moving during daylight than Owls. As soon, however, as the mantle-of night has fallen over the woods, they become very active, swooping close to the ground to gather up luckless beetles or dashing upward to capture passing moths. Their bills are small but their Fig. 36. NEST AND EGGS OF WHIP-POOR-WILL. The eggs are laid on the ground or leaves with no semblance ofa nest. tt ‘pig ay7 ysinbuysip hypany p)noo sua) ay} Waaa qDY) Joajsad Os st WoYysIajI0Ld 4070) NYNOQOA GNV TIIM-YOOd-dIHM ‘LE ‘3h 45 mouths are perhaps even larger than those of Nighthawks. They swallow, with ease, the largest of the moths and sphinges and relish equally well small gnats or winged ants. Chuck-wills-widows, larger members of the same genus, found commonly in ‘he Southern States are even more vor- acious and devour anything that happens to be a-wing at night and that will go in their enormous mouths; frequently Fig. 38. WHIP-POOR-WILL. Notice how perfectly she blends into the surrounding leaves. The living bird as seen by the eye shows no plainer than it does here. the remains of small birds are found in their stomachs, prob- ably caught while flying from one perch to another. Whip-poor-wills are very noisy on warm, clear, still nights. One night I pitched my tent beside a juniper tree on a point of land making out into a beautiful lake. This particular tree happened to be the favorite lookout perch of a Whip-poor-will, or else he was attarcted to it by the 46 white tent. At any rate one of them sat in the top of this little juniper from nine o’clock until one. It seemed to me that he “whipped-poor-will” constantly all this time. The notes are not objectionable and are interesting to listen to for a few minutes at a time, but four hours of continuous performance was too much for me, especially as the per- former was within twenty feet. I went out and gathered a few stones; as the first one went by he evidently though it some species of moth for he darted after it the same as Fig. 39. TREE SWALLOW, These swallows nest in hollow trees or in bird boxes. bats do if anything is thrown up in front of them, and then returned to the tree top and “whip-poor-willed” again. The next stone crashed through the tree below him and I saw his shadowy form flit overhead across the lake where his calls soon mingled with others of his kind and I was left undisturbed by them for the balance of the night. 47 ‘yauuny Jo yjbua) pun ysau moysio;) fivmpn paoys yuvg ‘MOTTVMS MNVd AO SO9DH GNV LSHN ‘Op Sl4 48 The Whip-poor-will makes no nest but lays its two faint- ly mottled eggs on dead leaves on the ground in woods, — usually where they will be partly concealed by overhanging brush. During daylight they trust to their protective color- ation entirely and it rarely fails them. You can readily judge from the photographs shown how closely they har- monize in color and markings with their surroundings. If one knows the location of a nest and uses due caution in approaching he can nearly always touch them before they will leave. The feathers of all birds of this genus are exceedingly soft so that their flight is entirely noiseless. At night they can thread their way in and out through the branches with an ease and grace that is incredible. I believe their sight too, at night, is even keener that that of any of the owls. SwALLows Swallows are the most active, most persistant and most graceful gleaners of the atmosphere. Of the six species found in the eastern states, all except the Bank and the l 4 Fig. 41. YOUNG BANK SWALLOWS. 49 Rough-winged Swallows have taken up their abodes in buildings built by man. Even the Bank Swallow commonly nests in holes in banks where men are constantly at work digging; and the Rough-winged species often makes its homes among the stones of bridge foundations. Barn Swal- lows nest within our barns, Eave or Cliff Swallows make their homes under the eaves, Tree Swallows live in little bird houses nailed to the sides of buildings or holes in our orchard trees and Purple Martins live in colonies, often in very large, elaborate, many-roomed houses topping poles set on lawns. No other class of birds has become so almost- domesticated as the swallows. Swallows are always sociable; they sometimes nest in very large colonies and always in as large numbers as the locality will support or furnish sites for. Of course it is more difficult for Tree Swallows to find a sufficient number of suitable cavities for many to nest near together, but I have found a half dozen pairs of these nesting in one orchard. . The illustration in which part of the bank has been cut away gives a perfect idea of the nesting of Bank Swallows. The little tunnel goes horizontally in for about two feet and is then enlarged to make room for the feather-lined, grass nest. The four or five eggs are pure white without markings. Fig, 42. A FAVORITE BRIDGE. For many years Phoebes have nested under this old bridge. Note the bird on the branch at left. 51 BIRD MASONS. Certain of our wild birds are quite expert at handling, and use quantities of mud in the formation of the cradles for their eggs and young. Three good examples of such birds are given in this chapter. The Robin and the Wood Thrush, the home lives of which are given in another chap- ter, also use much mud for the foundations of their nests. PHOEBE Early each spring, soon after the arrival, in New Eng- land, of Bluebirds, Robins and Song Sparrows, friend Phoebe puts in his appearance,—a welcome appearance be- cause it means that very soon a vast, kaleidoscopic proces- sion of birds will come trooping from the south. Phoebe is very often known as the “Bridge-Bird,’ not the kind of “bridge” with which so many people of this day are familiar, but the good, old-fashioned bridge that spans a stream or gully. Such a bridge, with large logs for stringers and planks for a surface, crosses a little brook along which I like to wander. Each year, for as long a time as any living person can remember, Phoebes have nested under this. Of course, new nests are built each sea- son, but they have usually been in the same spot,—above a slight projection on the side of one of the logs. The nest is gradually built up of pellets of mud, held together with grasses and mosses. Sometimes the outside is almost wholly of green moss, giving a most beautiful effect. The inside of the structure may be lined either with grass or feathers. The four or five eggs are a clear, creamy white usually with no markings, although sometimes very faint specks will show on the large end. Besides under bridges, Phoebes make their nests in niches in cliffs, under sheds and barns, under overhanging banks, among the stones of old cellar walls, in fact any- Fig. 48. NEST OF PHOEBE, This nest is under the bridge shown in Fig. 42. 53 where so that the nest will be shaded and protected from sight and the weather. Because of the comparative darkness of the situations they choose, in which to build their homes, it is quite difficult to make satisfactory pictures of Phoebes feeding their young. Not only that, but the birds are so active that it is difficult to show the feeding process even though the light were good. Usually, reflected sunlight from a large mirror has to be used to secure illumination sufficient to make an instantaneous exposure. A picture of a Phoebe sitting upon its nest in a shed is shown, taken in this man- ner; also a picture of the eggs in the nest, taken by having another mirror inverted above the nest. When a suburban trolley line crossed a certain brook, they put in very heavy iron girders for the foundation. A pair of Phoebes took a liking to this spot and built their moss-covered house on the lower flange of one girder. Here they laid their eggs and reared the family. Cars passed every thirty minutes, or as regularly as street cars usually go to such a schedule, on rails but two feet above the head of the mother as she sat upon the nest. The bird must have been entirely devoid of nerves for she never moved as the cars rumbled overhead with a clatter and roar that sounded fearful from underneath. I spent several hours under there and I was very glad to leave at the end of that time. A mirror situated on the bank below the bridge was used to throw a spot of light on the nest. The camera was set on a tripod in the water, which was only about six inches deep, while I had to crouch on a few small stones and try to keep my balance. Some cloth, tacked to the planking above and draping down to the water screened the camera and myself from the birds. From time to time, I had to push the mirror slightly so as to keep the little spot of sun- light where it would cover the nest. It was a very easy mat- ter to secure pictures of the mother as she stood on the edge 54 Fig. 44. PHOEBE ON NEST. This nest ison a beamina shed. Sun was thrown on it by a large mirror. Fig. 45. NEST AND EGGS OF PHOEBE. This is the same nest shown in Fig. 44. Two mirrors were used,—one to reflect sunlight and the other above the nest to Show the eggs. On o> Fig. 46. PHOEBE AND HER FAMILY. Taken just after feeding, by reflected sunlight. The actual feeding was always done while the bird was hovering and was too rapid to be photographed in 1-100 of a second. crt = of the nest looking at the extraordinary light that shone from the bank, but I was not able to get a satisfactory pic- ture of her actually feeding the little ones. In fact, most of the time, she would hover over the nest and feed them while a-wing, then drop to the edge and watch either the lens or the light. Fig. 47. This Phoebe nest was in an old cellar hole. ‘SMOTIVMS NUVA AO UlVd V ‘8h “831A 59 Fig. 49. NEST AND EGGS OF BARN SWALLOW. Always lined with soft feathers. The male bird did not come to the nest at all, while I was there, but he encouraged his mate to do so for he would stand outside, flirt his tail and utter many a harsh “‘phoe-be”’ as she was going under the bridge; he also often gave a rather pretty trill as she came out, just as though he were praising her for her bravery in going where he dared not. Most of the food brought to the nest was small moths that were caught flying over or about the edges of the brook. Barn SwALLow Just as the Phoebe is the ‘“Bridge-bird,” so this is a bird of the barn. Before the advent of civilized man, they dwelt in caves or in hollow trees. So wholly have they now adapted themselves to man’s ways that I have never seen, nor have I heard of an instance for many years, of one of their nests except in a building constructed by human hands. 60 ti © val 3 us . a it Fig. 50. NEST OF BARN SWALLOW. Taken by reflected sunlight, and a second mirror above the nest to show the eggs. 0] Fig. 51. A DOUBLE NEST. Note that these nests are placed on a mowing machine knife. It is well to provide projections in suitable places for these birds to build upon. Barn Swallows make their nests or pellets of mud held to- gether with bits of straw; bit by bit, these are attached to the side of a beam until the half-bowl-shaped structure is complete; the inside is always very warmly lined with soft feathers from barnyard fowls. Sometimes these nests are plastered to beams that are fairly smooth, and in such cases are very apt to be loosened and fall. Usually a very rough beain or a spot where there is a splinter or a nail projecting, 62 is chosen. One of our pictures shows a nest that is built on the cutter of a mowing machine, this having been laid across two nails. Many farmers, realizing the value of these birds about their places, nail small bits of board to the bottom of some of the beams, so as to give their little friends a firm foundation for their homes. Time after time, I have hidden in a hay mow just to watch these exceedingly graceful creatures as they skimmed in through the barn door, swept upward and landed, light as feathers, on the edge of their nests. Always, as they glided through the door, I would hear their musical twitter; Fig. 52. YOUNG BARN SWALLOWS. All from one nest but probably belonging to two pairs ot swallows. the little birds, waiting in the nest were listening intently for that same twitter and were always all standing up with wings fluttering and mouths wide open ready to greet their parent when he or she arrived. Each parent usually brought enough every trip to go the rounds of the hungry mouths. The food was composed almost wholly of gnats and other tiny insects that can be caught in great quantities 63 as the swallows go swooping across the fields or over ponds. How I, longed to be able to reproduce, with the camera, the beautiful scenes that I have witnessed many times at Barn Swallow nests, but, unfortunately, they have always been in locations where the light did not allow of instanta- neous pictures and always where I have been unable to use a mirror to reflect light. Their movements, as they thrust food in turn down the waiting throats are so very rapid that no exposure longer than one one hundredth of a second would secure any result except a blur. Curr SwaLLow While the Barn Swallows usually have their homes within barns, Cliff Swallows almost as frequently fasten theirs to the outsides of such structures, on which account they are very generally known as “Eave Swallows.” These Swal- lows are more gregarious than Barn Swallows; even in the East, where they build under the eaves of buildings, they nest in colonies varying from two or three nests to some- times as many as fifty on one building. In the West where they have not so fully learned the ways of civilization, they nest in colonies of thousands, attaching their homes to the faces of cliffs. Their nests are constructed in the same manner as those of Barn Swallows but are of a much different shape. The typical Cliff Swallow nest is flask-shaped; it is attached to the building or cliff by one side of the rounded bottom, which is slightly flattened, and the entrance is through an opening in the short neck that protrudes from the upper side; again the nest may have no neck but simply a round hole in the upper part of the mud dome. The outside has a very granular appearance caused by the large pellets of mud that are plastered on it. The inside is, of course, lined with feathers or grasses. Many persons confuse this bird and the latter one, but they are very different and easily recognized. This species has no swallow or forked tail and has a light patch on the O-+4 rump and one on the forehead, both of which are very easily seen even during flight. Although I have seen and know of a great many of their nesting sights my photographic experiences with these birds are limited to one attempt. ‘The nests were under the eaves of a large barn, fully thirty feet above ground; time and conditions forced me to hold the graflex camera out of a tiny window and make exposures in a most awkward atti- tude. The eggs of this species are precisely like those of the Barn Swallow,—creamy white, profusely spotted with reddish-brown. ‘The nests are most commonly located on buildings near water; I have found them very commonly plastered to the sides of ice houses. Fig. 53. LEAST FLYCATCHER. Brooding her little ones. 65 EXPERT FLYCATCHERS. CHEBEC oR LEAsT FLYCATCHER The pair of Least Flycatchers, with which this chapter deals, built their nest, as may be very plainly seen in the photographs, in an apple tree. This tree was located within twenty feet of the house of a friend of mine and also of the birds. We saw the very foundation built, in fact we noticed them carrying almost the first materials that entered into Fig. 54. The nest was daintly set among a cluster of green apples. it. The building of the home occupied the two of them for three days. They did not work very steadily for there were a great many flies and moths to be caught. The male had a favorite lookout perch at the very apex of a pear tree; he would often sit there for an hour at a time singing his 5 66 simple and homely song,—just a sharp, snappy “‘che-bec,” accompanying each syllable with a quick jerk of his head. It was a finely made nest, very firmly quilted together, of gray plant fibres, string, horsehair and fine grass, bound very tightly to its supporting twigs. A week after the nest was completed, it contained three, creamy-colored eggs; she laid no more but immediately commenced sitting, hour Fig. 55. Many millers, as well as other insects, were ted to the young Chebecs. after hour and day after day. Sometimes she did not even leave at dinner time for her mate was very thoughtful and often brought her moths and various kinds of flies. At other times he would start from his lookout perch and fly over her, with that fluttering flight that flycatchers so often affect, just to assure himself that everything went well in his home; at such times he usually uttered the beautiful lit- 67 tle trill that these flycatchers often make when they are pleased with themselves or their surroundings. In due course of time the eggs hatched. When the young were ten days old we made our first photographs. The nest Fig. 56. The food was quickly thrust far down the throat of the hungry bird-baby. was about ten feet from the ground, but we pulled the limb down and tied it so that their home was only eight feet up. We then backed a large covered wagon up close to the nest and from within made quite a series of pictures. The little mother was brooding the young as we backed the wagon up and, although so large an object coming so close must have frightened her, she stayed “aboard” the nest until we climbed into the wagon and began setting up the cameras within three feet of her. We soon had everything concealed, except the lenses, by large blankets, and the little mother bird paid no more at- 68 tention to us. The nest was in an exposed position, where the sun shone brightly on it during the forenoon, so she brooded the little birds a great deal. She would stand over them with wings slightly spread, warding off the fierce rays of the sun from her offspring; such was her devotion. About every five minutes her mate would bring some kind Fig. 57. When we placed the little birds on a branch, mother Chebec at once fed them and then looked long at the glass ‘‘eye’’ staring at her. of a winged insect for the little ones, and she would instant- ly dart down into the coolness of the foliage below, only to return in a few minutes to take up her task. This pair of birds and the three young remained about the orchard until the end of summer; the next year a pair, and I think it was the same, had a nest within a few feet of where the other was, but this time it was placed where the sun did not shine on it at all; had she remembered the suffering of the previous year? 69 Fig. 58. Father Chebec was in sucha hurry that he trod all over one of the little birds while feeding the other. A Famity or REpsTARTS The morning of one June day found me threading my way along a narrow footpath that wound its way in and out through one of the most delightful pieces of woodland that ever echoed a bird song. As I walked slowly along, I was separating, by their voices, the many varieties of birds whose babble filled the woodland with melody. A gleam of orange and black among the foliage, pro- claims the presence of a Redstart, that alert member of the warbler family whose habits are so like those of some of the flycatchers. He was in the act of tearing fragments from a caterpillar nest; this material he carried across the path to a small maple about twenty feet from me and wound it about the framework of a nest that he and his mate had just commenced. While he was so engaged, his partner appeared with a load of plant fibres which she carefully and skilfully weaved into the growing home. Fig. 59. MALE REDSTART AND FAMILY He was pertectly fearless and came as reqularly as though we were not present. re Seating myself under the shade of a bush not more than ten feet away I enjoyed a two hour lesson in the art of nest-building. The male was an unusually bright-colored bird; he was very proud and conceited too. His mate was also very beautiful, even though less gaily clad than he. Undoubtedly she knew more about correct house building than Mr. Redstart, but he did not think so, and whenever she objected to his manner of doing the work, he promptly drove her away with playful snappings of his bill. In the end, she had her way as is usual in such differences, for when he went off for more material she would do his work over to suit herself. They were exceedingly active in all their movements, their actions as they chased one another about being bewil- dering. Naturally, with so much play, the nest grew but slowly. and it was over a week from the time the founda- tion was laid before the trim little structure was completed. A week later, four possibilities of future Redstarts occupied the nest. As there were many squirrels about and the woods were often frequented by boys, I concluded it well to at least get one photographic record of the nest in case any- thing should happen to it. It was located only about four feet above ground and I had not the least difficulty in get- ting a good likeness of the female as she descended to the eggs. The male bird, at this time, was literally “out of a job,” for I never saw him assist her in the duties of incubation and only once while I was present did he bring her anything to eat. He spent his time in the tops of the trees, singing, dashing after insects and driving away birds that came toc near him. With the advent of the young, came an end to his period of loafing and he did his duty manfully and with much enthusiasm. The actions of the two birds, in the presence of the cam- era, were quite different. The male showed a disdain for ~I to Fig. 60. FEMALE REDSTART. it that was amusing. I had arrived during his absence and had my head under the cloth focussing on the nest when I felt a little rush of air, a streak of orange flashed across the ground glass screen and the male was bending over his children. How I longed to reproduce the picture that showed on the screen as he fed each of his little ones in turn, his wings quivering in his enthusiasm and his tail opening and closing like a fan. The pictures were not Fig. 61. BROODING THE LITTLE ONES, made from the tent, I being concealed in a bush about ten feet away and making exposures by means of a long tube to release the shutter. Several times he lit upon the camera and once he swung upon the long rubber tube for several seconds. I made quite a number of pictures of him but many were failures because of the rapidity of his move- ments. His mate was much more cautious in her manner of approach, in fact she seemed to fear the camera more than she had when I made her picture before, but after she became acquainted with me she was very tame. The quar- tet of youngsters were very bright. When they were a week old, their curiosity was fully developed. They had just the faintest suspicion of feathers on them, their almost bald heads looking very comical as they hung them over the edge of the nest and watched their parents foraging. 74 They were naughty too, at times, as is shown by the picture of the mother trying to brood them. She turned and twisted and poked at them in her endeavors to keep them under her, but they would insist on sticking their heads out to see what was going on. The one on the right really looks as though he were laughing at her vain attempts to control him. The nest, which was plenty large enough for the eggs and for the little birds in their first stages, is shown by the pictures of the male feeding them, to be entirely too small to accomodate them as they get larger. We cannot but pity the poor little fellow that is vainly trying to push his way up, but we may rest assured that when it comes his turn to be fed, he will not be forgotten. At no time, while I was watching them, did they feed the little birds upon large insects such as many of the smaller birds frequently do. All food brought seemed to be small winged insects or little caterpillars that they picked up from the ground. Fig. 62. A pair of Bluebirds on the top of their nesting post. 79 Pic ooh hea DD OBLUESABIR DS: Tue BLUEBIRD A sweet melodious warble, a flash of the brightest of blue and there upon the decayed end of an apple bough, sits one of our very best of friends, the Bluebird. As we watch, he disappears within the opening,—surely fortune smiles upon us, for the nest hole is barely above the head,— an ideal place for using the camera. True, the nest is on the north side of the tree and conse- quently in rather a dark place, but we are prepared for such emergencies and in a few minutes, the reflection from a a Fig. 68. BLUEBIRD AT ITS NEST-HOLE. Fig. 64. A BLUEBIRD PORTRAIT, illuminated by reflected sunlight from a large mirror. This nest was on the north side of the tree in shadow so that without the mirror pictures could not have been secured. fits large mirror makes the place as light as though it were in the bright sunlight. We soon have the camera in readiness and retire to a place of concealment behind the next tree, holding a long black linen thread the other end of which is attached to a little device to spring the shutter. As the male bird flits to and fro in the sunlight, his blue coat is dazzling in its bril- Fig. 65. YOUNG BLUEBIRDS. liancy. His sombre colored but equally melodious mate is very anxious to examine her household but evidently is afraid the square box in front of her door is some sort of a trap. She makes a great many false starts but each succes- sive move brings her a little nearer to the goal until at last she gathers all her courage and alights on the nesting hole. 78 Figs 66;, “IN TEE DOOR Way Fig. 67. MOTHER BLUEBIRD AND HER YOUNG ! | j Fig. 68. Bluebirds like bird boxes if the English*sparrows are kept away. Instantly a dazed expression comes over her. Something is wrong. She looks long and steadily at the dazzling re- flection coming from down in the grass, then peeks around the limb at the sun that is still doing duty in its proper place. The problem proved too great for her or else she lacked the time to study over it longer, for she dived down to her nest to see how her little ones were faring. A certain twig on a dead limb of the next tree, was a 80 Fig. 69. AN UNUSUAL SIGHT. These Bluebirds nested in one arm of this scare-crow. favorite perch for her. It allowed her a clear view of the ground for thirty feet about; often she would drop into the grass and capture grasshoppers or caterpillars and bear them off to the nest. The male bird, because of fear, abso- lutely refused to have his portrait made. He often brought morsels of food and gave them to his mate to carry to the Oo — little ones,—-rather ungallant of Mr. Bluebird to thus expose his mate to fancied dangers he dare not face. Another pair of Bluebirds has nested annually, for years, in the top of a certain fence post. This same nest has, on several occasions, furnished a little joke at the ex- pense of some of my friends. As we approached the field in which this post was located, I would casually remark that I had a little Bluebird-friend that would allow me to Fig. 70. The sleeve of scare-crow opened so as to show the nest and eggs. ‘put my arm about her without any attempt to get away. Naturally such a statement would be viewed with some doubt and I would be called upon for proof. The proof was easy, for I had but to step up to the post and put my arm about it, the bird at the time being sitting closely upon the eggs within. Usually two broods a year were reared in this secure home. rep) 82 Little bluebirds have blue backs and brownish breasts, like their parents but, like all members of the thrush fam- ily to which Bluebirds belong, they have spotted breasts and more or less spotting on their backs. This plumage is lost at the first moult and they become just like their par- ents. Bluebirds do not always nest in hollow trees or fences; Rig (i. BUGHBIRD: many a boy or girl has a little bird box built expressly for their use, and they are very glad to use them if English sparrows can be kept from pestering them. They also sometimes build in very odd places as can be seen by the photographs of the nest in the sleeve of a scarecrow. Buvue Jay Blue Jays always seem like old friends to me. I have seen a great many of them under all conditions of life. I 83 Fig. 72. NEST.AND EGGS OF BLUE JAY. The Blue Jay usually nests in pine trees. have watched them through field glasses; I have looked at them over the sights of a gun; I have watched them on the ground glass of a eamera; and I have kept them and watched them in captivity. One morning, about the middle of May, two men might have been seen going along a certain pine-covered hillside. Their actions were peculiar for they stopped and looked sharply into each tree as they passed. It was very promis- ing ground for Blue Jay nests and, to tell the truth, that is just what these men were looking for. A bird slipped quietly out of the far side of one of the pines, but the sharp eyes of my companion caught sight of 84 ‘ONOOA UAH DNIGOOUA AVE AAT ‘SL Bt 85 the flash of blue and he exclaimed, “Here it is!’ About six feet from the ground was quite a large nest built of black twigs and rootlets, and in it were five, greenish-gray eggs covered with darker spots. Not a sound came from the bird that had so silently disappeared. Jays are not birds to needlessly advertise their homes when there is the possibility that they may escape notice. Two days later the eggs had hatched and by Memorial Day the little Jays were ready to leave their nest. After Fig. 74. DINNER TIME. having posed for their pictures they were released, except one that went home with us where he stayed for the three following years. A few of this bird’s deeds and misdeeds 86 ee ae a ee = ee Fig. 75. Young Jays in Nest. 87 may serve to interest and give an insight into the true nature of all jays. Who first gave this bird a name and why it was given, no- body knows, but almost from the first day it was known as Kitty. Part of a room was screened off, including a large window, for the exclusive use of Kitty, and several small trees and a little pine were introduced so as to allow for exercise. The first two weeks, Kitty had to be fed very often; when anyone was in the room, she would hop about after them with wide-open mouth and fluttering wings, al- ways begging for more. Bread and milk, eggs and bits ot Fig. 76. The Jays become too large tor their home and are crowded out on the neighboring branches. raw meat seemed perfectly satisfactory to her if they came in large enough doses and at frequent intervals. It was about three weeks before Kitty could fly strongly and then her mischievousness began to assert itself at every oppor- tunity. Kitty seldom made typical jay calls or whistles but she 88 had a very great many notes of her own and would some- times whistle and warble continuously for an hour at a time, at times striking combinations of notes that sounded very pretty. Wild jays, especially in Spring, often talk among themselves with low whistles, with an effect very similar tc Kitty’s song. She never used the loud, harsh, jay scream unless angered or greatly excited; if a dog came into the room, she was a typical, wild jay and would raise her crest and scream at the top of her voice. She had two whistles Fig. 77. The day after leaving home. that were used to denote gratification, usually when she had played a joke on some one; always, when giving these she would bob up and down on her legs in the most ludicrous manner. Many a ball player might have taken lessons, to advan- tage, from Kitty; she never missed catching in her beak, peanuts, kernels of corn or pennies, as they were tossed to her. She was a regular miser and pennies were hid in crevices all over her room; she also stored up, the same as wild jays do, quantities of food so as to be provided for a rainy day. 89 If I happened to be talking to anyone in the room, she would bide her time until we were not watching her, then swoop down between us so that a wing would sweep across our faces; if we were startled and dodged, as usually hap- Fig. 78. Three days before they left the nest, of their own accord pened, she would dance up and down and whistle in her ecstacy. She was fond of bright colored objects, especially if they were on ladies’ hats. One day a lady went into the room wearing imitation cherries on her hat. Kitty was quite fond of cherries but had never had them served that way be- fore. She did not, however, complain about the service but landed right in the middle of the bunch and commenced to: hammer away with all her might. Fortunately for me, L got her away before any damage was done. One day a live Barred Owl was brought to me and was: placed in the room outside of Kitty’s portion. Kitty’s greatest delight was to escape from her apartment when we opened the door to feed her. By a sudden dash, she got her freedom on the day the owl was brought in. She had 90 never seen an owl before but was perfectly willing to take a chance on hectoring him. Every time she flew across the room she would whistle with glee as he opened his eyes and blinked at her. The owl made no attempt to dissuade her from her play but I imagine he was saying to himself: “You just wait until night, you little blue imp, and “Ill wring your neck.”’ Of course.as Kitty was safely fastened in her own apartment before dark, the owl had no opportunity to get his revenge. It is a pity that such beautiful and interesting birds as Blue Jays should be so destructive. They do a great deal of useful work in destroying caterpillars but the harm they work in destroying eggs and young of other useful birds much more than balances the good that they do. Still I think that no one weuld advocate the extermination of jays; certainly not until that greatest of all pests, the English Sparrow is gotten rid of. Fig. 79. NEST OF RUBY-THR. HUMMINGBIRD. —— |. = OI MOSS-COVERED HOMES. RuBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Hummingbirds are creatures of the New World. About five hundred species are found in North and South America. They range from Alaska to Patagonia, being most numerous in northern South America and in Central America. Only sixteen species out of this great number are known to have occurred in the United States and but a single species, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, is found east of the Missis- sippi River. I have always been greatly interested in these “gems.” In fact, when I was but eight years of age, my interest in them led me to capture one in a butterfly net as it flew about the flowers in the garden. I thought I had a most wonder- ful prize, but I am glad to say that my parents quickly in- duced me to release it. As usual with all ornithologists at that time, my early investigations were made chiefly from a covetous standpoint. Much was learned, but knowledge so gained does not compare in value with that obtained when the possessive instinct is ignored. There is a very prevalent idea that Hummingbirds subsist entirely upon the honey or nectar of flowers; such a diet would soon ruin the digestive organs of any kind of bird or beast. As a matter of fact, nectar forms a very small per- centage of hummingbird food. Instead of sipping the honey from the flowers they visit, they usually are engaged in the very useful occupation of eating the many tiny in- sects that gather in such places. It is well known that most flowers that secrete nectar are partially or wholly dependent upon certain insects to carry pollen from one blossom to the stigma of another and so effect cross-fertilization; these useful insects are usually large, long-tongued ones like bees, _ moths and butterflies. So in destroying the tiny insects, hummingbirds perform a service to the plants by removing pilfering insects that do no good, and to mankind also. ‘LSAN NO GHIGDNINWOH AIVNGA ‘08 “sla nape arseragenssccmten eo: 93 I have always believed that nests of this hummingbird contain a greater amount of labor, are better made and are very much more beautiful than nests of any other kinds of birds. I have had many excellent opportunities to watch them during their home-building. One day I saw a “hummer” buzzing about under some ferns, within a few inches of the ground; she was gathering the soft, downy wool that sheathes the young fronds and is often left hanging to the stems of older ferns. When she had a tiny load of this in her slender bill, she whizzed away with it; fortunately I was able to keep track of her rapid flight and saw her land on a limb about twenty feet above ground. She had just commenced her work, barely enough of the future nest showing to be seen with the field glasses. She was quite industrious but she only gathered tiny loads at a time and it took her quite a long while to find the material, so that building was a very slow operation. At the end of three days, the walls of the nest had just com- menced to assume a recognizable form. Sometimes she brought little masses of whiter, finer ma- terial even than the “wool,” probably cobwebs; this evident- ly held the balance’ of the material more closely together. I never saw her mate anywhere near the nest during its construction, but he did appear and help defend the home after the little ““hummers”’ appeared. The decorating of the outside of the nest was the most interesting part of the work. She seemed to be exceedingly particular about the appearance of each piece of lichen that was glued in place. Often she would buzz up and down and around the trunks of several trees before she could find a piece to her liking. When finished, she had a bit of bird architecture of which she was justly proud. Greens predominated in the lichens that grew on this tree, and all the pieces that were on her nest were of the same shade. Without seeing her going to it, nobody would have suspected that the little tuft of moss was other than a natural growth on the limb. 94 It was just ten days from the time the structure was commenced, when it was finished. In four days more, there were two little white eggs, just the size and shape of small pea-beans, laying in the soft little cup. In sixteen days Fig. 81. You can imagine how crowded this nest was betore the first of the two young left. more, there emerged from these eggs, two tiny, naked mites, looked anything except like the little feathered jewels into which they were to develop. ‘The little birds remained in the nest three weeks. At the end of the first week, tiny little pin feathers had commenced to appear; in two weeks they looked like little cushions stuck full of pins. From this time until they left, their feathers blossomed out very rapidly and they were transformed from the little helpless 95 mites into lusty little birds bigger than the nest could com- fortably hold. For two weeks they were fed entirely by regurgitation,— on food pre-digested by the parents. This feeding process is one of the most peculiar sights in bird-dom. The parent stands on the edge of the nest, erect and neck stretched to the utmost so as to get the slender bill into the mouth of the little one. The head is worked vigorously and the food “pumped in.” It is a process that looks a great deal more like a surgical operation than like a dinner party. Hummingbirds, tiny as they are, have violent and easily aroused tempers; no bird is more courageous nor as quick to attack man, bird or beast that threatens its home. With excited “chipperings,” they will often dash right at your face like little winged bullets, so that you invariably dodge. They stop when a few inches away, but there is always the uncertainty so that one does not dare keep still to see if they would strike. Hummers are quite cleanly in their habits. I never saw them bathe in pools of water, but I have seen them moistened as though with dew from the leaves, and then seen them taking “dust baths” to dry themselves. It is believed that our Hummingbird has a preference for bright red colors and that they like particularly well to feast from the depths of the cardinal flower, trumpet creeper and other gaudy, long-tubed blossoms of that hue. However, we find them very commonly about many of the garden and wild flowers of other colors and about apple, pear and cherry trees when they are in bloom. ANNA HUMMINGBIRD. One of the most common of the several hummingbirds found in California is called the Anna Hummingbird. It is slightly larger than our eastern bird and the male has a fiery-pink throat and crest,—a beautiful little species. As a rule I believe that this species is even more tame Fig. 82. ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD. than the Ruby-throat. I have known of many instances of their flying to the flowers on ladies’ hats, thinking that they were real ones. They also show a partiality or preference for a close acquaintance with mankind as they very often build their nests in vines on trellises or piazzas of dwellings. Their nests are made of woolly plant fibres held together, especially on the outside with cobwebs. The outside has little or no moss or lichen ornamentation. These nests are usually built at low elevations, most often under ten feet above ground, while I have found nests of the Ruby-— throat at least sixty feet up. O7 BLueE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. These charming little birds are very common in the southern half of the United States. Their body is but little bigger than that of a hummingbird, but a rather long tail makes the total length of the bird a great deal more. Their call notes can often be heard coming from the high trees that they like to frequent. It is a sound that would 7 eB ie eat Be eT e Fig. 83. NEST OF BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS. escape the notice of many observers,—not loud and with an insect-like quality that might cause it to be overlooked,—a rather, twanging, high-pitched mew. Their song is a mixed medley of faint noises, not worthy of the name of a song, but it expresses their pleasure and, to them, it may be as 98 beautiful as the efforts of our most accomplished musicians. Although their vocal efforts may not appeal to us, they have two claims to notice that cannot be ignored,—their graceful beauty and their nest-building ability. Slim, graceful, with a soft blending of blue-gray, black and white, they create an impression that, coupled with their agility, matching that of the Chickadee, calls forth our admiration. I have said that the nest of our hummingbird is one of the most beautiful bird creations. The Blue-gray Gnat- catcher nest is almost a perfect reproduction of the hummer- nest but on a much larger scale. While the nest of the hummingbird is small even in proportion to its maker, that of the gnatcatcher is rather large for the size of the bird; that is, the outside of the nest, the whole bulk of it, is large; but the walls are very thick so that the little, very deeply- cupped interior is hardly big enough to accomodate the lit- tle bird and the four or five beautiful, white, brown-specked eggs that she lays. While you may see gnatcatchers feeding on the lower limbs of trees or among the underbrush, they like high ele- vations and it is usually high up in the trees, on horizontal branches, that the exquisite moss-covered homes are placed. Woop PEWEE. Belonging to an entirely different family, but still build- ing the same type of moss-adorned nest, is the Wood Pewee. These are among the commonest of the flycatchers; they are called pewees because of the song they sing so often during the summer months,—a very clearly whistled “‘pee-ah-wee; (short pause) peeeee-wee.”’ Nearly every small piece of woods has its pewees and often we find them in orchards. Each bird has a favorite perch or two,—dead twigs that give them a good view of the surrounding territory. They perch on these for hours at a time, occasionally dashing out after a luckless miller or bee that happens to pass within sight of their keen eyes; Fig. 84. NEST OF WOOD PEWEE. 100 ever and anon their plaintive “pee-ah-wee” rings out, often with clock-like regularity. It is, however, with Wood Pewee homes that we are at present concerned. These are, as I have said, moss-covered, but they are very inferior in construction to those either of the Hummingbird or Gnatcatcher. The bulk of the nest is made out of coarse plant fibres, not so perfectly quilted together and very shallow as compared to the nests of the other birds mentioned. The outside has less moss attached and it is not done in as firm a manner. Still these nests, saddling quite large limbs as they do, are very difficult to see. If one has patience they are, how- ever, very easy to find, especially if the nest happens to contain a full set of the creamy white eggs with their sharp, brown specks. You have but to watch either of the owners. Should you chance to be observing the female, she will prob- ably go to the nest within a few minutes; should it be the male bird that you are watching, he will probably quite quickly betray the hiding place of the nest, for he is very attentive to his mate and often carries food to her as she sits on the eggs. All flycatchers have a metallic little trill that they utter, usually when they are very happy and sometimes under stress of excitement; the female pewee gives it as she settles on her nest and the male usually does as he goes to feed her. I have found the greater number of their nests built on horizontal limbs of oak trees, but I have sometimes, too, found th in chestnuts, in maples along roadsides and in apple tree . The majorit, 1ave been located from twenty to fifty feet above ground, but I have found one as low as eight feet, this one being in an orchard. AND EGGS OF GOLDFINCH. 102 Fig. 86. YOUNG GOLDFINCHES. The adults in summer are often called Wild Canaries; their song is fully as sweet as that of the canary. 103 FAVORITE SONGSTERS Rosin Were a vote to be taken to discover the most popular bird in America, fully three-quarters of them would prob- ably be registered for the Robin. With the exception of Song Sparrows, no other birds found about cities and habi- tations, have as extensive a range. We may hear the same Robin song in Massachusetts, in California, in Alaska, in Labrador or in the Gulf States. To be sure, Robins are separated into three sub-species but it is only the hair- splitting ornithologist who can tell the difference between them and even he must know just where a Robin was taken before he can tell which kind it is. Robins are migratory birds, but they migrate only just so far as is absolutely necessary in order to get food to live upon. Many of them pass the winter even in the north- Fig. 87. ROBIN ON NEST, Many nests are built in such locations. 104 Fig. 88. ROBIN NEST. A typical nest, the inside construction of which is almost wholly of mud. 105 ern states, where they can get shelter in large cedar swamps. It is quite probable that it is the birds from the extreme northern parts of their breeding range that winter in northern United States, while the birds that breed here migrate southwards to the Gulf States. Fig, 89. JUST FED BUT STILL HUNGRY. Adult Robins return to the same breeding grounds each year and are believed to remain mated for life. It is prob- able that the young birds become separated from their par- ents and from each other and seek new fields on their re- turn from the south. The song of the Robin is always pleasing,—a loud, roll- ing ‘‘cheer-up, cheerily cheerily, etc.” varied greatly in pitch but usually fitting these words. An old rendition of the Fig, 90. AN ATTRACTIVE LOCATION. English Sparrows pulled the bottom from this nest and the eggs tell to the ground. 107 Robin song, probably originating in the mind of some phy- sician, runs “Kill-him, cure-him; kill-him, cure-him; give him physic; quick!” Robins have, however, other notes not so pleasing. Their voices are loud and their lungs lusty. When they have a real or fancied grievance they can create more excitement and make more noise than a dozen of any other species of bird. I can speak with authority in regard to the volume of noise Robins are capable of making, for Hig, 9l. INSPECTION; they consider placing a camera up in a tree within three feet of their home, a real grievance and they call out ali other birds in the neighborhood to help them proclaim the fact. I well remember the first Robin nest I ever “‘tackled”’ photographically, although it was a good many years ago. It was on an apple bough perhaps ten feet above ground. Tents were not used at that time, but the camera shutter 108 was operated from a distant hiding place, by means of a very long tube and a very large bulb. This particular pair of Robins never did like me, for I had, on several occasions, visited nests in adjoining trees, so you can imagine the greeting that I received when I climbed into their own tree, pulled up the camera and set it with the great staring eye Hig. 927 ARE, THEY, HUNGRY within three feet of their nest. I spent more time and energy and had more trouble securing pictures of these par- ticular Robins than I have ever experienced with any other kind of birds. Curiously enough they did not care so much about the camera which was so close to their home as they did about me, hiding behind a tree a hundred feet away. To make a long story short, I had to cover the camera with my focussing cloth and leave it in that tree over night, re- turning the next morning with sufficient thread to operate 109 Fig. 98. Taken in 1-100 of a second, showing the active move- ments of hungry young birds. 110 the camera shutter from a distance of three hundred feet. I got the pictures but it was an unusual amount of trouble to do so, especially for such common birds as Robins. The different temperaments of different birds of the same spe- cies is emphasized by the fact that I have since taken Robin pictures with no concealment, from a distance of less than Six eet: Fig. 94. THE NEST ON THE BLIND, Most normal Robins place their rudely constructed mud- and-grass houses in trees at heights of from six to twenty feet from the ground. Of course there are eccentric Robins, as well as persons, and some of these depart from the usual customs of their kind. We sometimes see their nests in the upper branches of elms, fully sixty feet up; I have also found them built among roots under overhanging banks. 111 Fig. 95. Approaching the nest shown in figure 94. These represent the extremes of altitude. We have many instances of very odd locations a few of which I will men- tion. Some people consider quantity rather than quality as the most important ingredient of music. Such must have been the opinions of the Robins that built their nest on a girder in a factory where the noise was continuous and deafening. They obtained entrance through a broken window pane op- posite the girder. It is very strange that they should have had the temerity to even enter such a place and stranger still that they should choose it for their home. A suburban trolley line crosses a brook over a short bridge Liz made by heavy iron stringers on which are wooden ties for the rails to rest upon. I think that if I were a bird and had determined to build a home in any such place, I should at least have placed it on one of the stringers between the ties where it would have had a secure foundation. Mrs. Robin, however, perhaps because she wanted more excite- 5. Pons; % Ae . Ga 9s ‘ ag ~- Fig. 96. Sometimes worms were brought for the little ones and again mulberries trom a nearby tree. ment and danger, plastered her nest right against the side of the rails, so that half rested on the lower flange and half on the tie. Cars ran on a half-hour schedule so that every fifteen minutes wheels rumbled over the rails within two inches of the rim of the nest. The strangest part of this nesting was that the nest remained in place and the young were successfully reared. While the Robin was incubating she always left the nest when cars passed over, at least dur- ing the daytime while I was watching; what she did at night 113 can only be conjectured, but I presume from the actions of other birds under somewhat similar circumstances, that she stayed “aboard” the nest and let the cars go over her. Another pair of Robins liked city life. They chose a spot in the very heart of a large city, where there were large lawns from which they could easily extract the earth worms so palatable to Robins, young and old, and also near a large mulberry tree; with these two handy sources of food Fig. 97. I WONDER IF THIS WILL SATISFY HIM. supply they felt that they had an ideal location. The only objection was the numbers of English Sparrows that are al- ways present in cities. The ruffians and our native song and insectivorous birds, through no fault of the latter, can seldom live peaceably in the same neighborhood. I think that these Robins may have previously met with the same misfortune that befell the pair that I will next tell about, and decided that the best way to avoid further trouble from that source was to trust to the protection of mankind. At 114 Fig 98. YOUNG ROBIN: Showing the spotted breast common to the youngjof all mem- bers of the Thrush Family even though the adults have un- marked ones. 115 any rate, for three years in succession, they made their nest on the top of a blind on the front piazza of the property owner's house. As they were quite neat and did no damage they were allowed to remain and furnished a good deal of amusement for the family. The birds came and went with- out fear even while members of the family were gathered on the piazza directly under the nest. Sparrows were not allowed about the house any more than possible, but some- times bands of them would mob one of the Robins as it was bringing food to its young; the bird could protect itself, but usually lost its provender during the melee. In the same city, another pair of Robins dwelt. They built their nest in an elm tree in front of a large block. A picture is shown of this Robin sitting upon the nest,— 116 Fig. 100. Veery about to settle wpon her greenish-blue eggs. Bie taken from a window in the block. English Sparrows con- tinually pestered this pair of birds. Although nesting ma- terial was abundant on every hand, the sparrows, out of pure deviltry, chose to steal it from the Robin rather than pick it up from the ground. One after another would slyly steal up under the nest, grasp the end of a straw or string, pull it from its fastening and, with a gleeful chuckle, fly away with it. These depredations continued until the bottom of the nest was torn out and the Robin eggs were dashed to the paving below. Similar tragedies are enacted hundreds of times every year in all cities and towns yet we still sometimes meet mis- guided people who will undertake to defend the English Sparrow. The person who can invent the surest, most ef- fective and swiftest means of ridding our country of these pests will be one of the greatest benefactors of mankind. VEERY oR WILSON THRUSH As in the case of a great many of our birds, it is from its song that this species receives its name. This song is a de- scending spiral of tremulous, reedy whistles, which may be interpreted as ‘““Vee-r-r-r-r-y, vee-r-r-r-r-y,”’ the ‘veery’ be- ing repeated perhaps half a dozen times, each making a complete turn of the spiral and each being of a lower pitch and lesser volume than the preceding. This song may be heard at almost all hours of the day and often until after dusk in most woodland, during summer. Their call and note of protest is a single, tremulous, mournful, ascending whis- ile; Veeries are perfectly garbed for the life they lead, on or near the ground, their backs being almost a perfect match in color to dead leaves. Veeries build their nests of strips of bark and fine grasses, placing them on the ground or very near it; often it is set down in the middle of a patch of dead leaves, sometimes in the midst of a clump of ferns and often 118 against the sides or in the middle of old stumps. The four greenish-blue eggs loom up prominently in the deeply-cup- ped nest; probably for that reason the bird does not leave the nest unless she is seen, for to do so would expose the brightly colored eggs to view and result in discovery while she can usually escape notice. Although I have taken many pictures of Wilson Thrushes in many different locations, the one chosen for this sketch Fig. 101. VEERY RETURNING TO NEST. illustrates one of my very first attempts at bird photogra- phy. This nest was situated at the base of a clump of black- berry vines, and contained four eggs. The bird proved to be more shy than usual and in two weeks time I was able to secure but two satisfactory pictures of her. The day following its discovery an attempt was made to picture the Thrush returning to the nest. The camera was set with the lens but two feet distant from the eggs and I was concealed in a heap of brush twenty feet away. The 119 camera was covered with a green cloth and plentifully sprinkled with leaves so as to attract as little attention as possible, but undoubtedly it looked to the Veeries bigger than a house would to us. Both birds were away while I was getting in readiness. Upon their return they were greatly astonished to see a strange affair standing so near their home. They talked to each other about it, in low tones, for several minutes and then flew away. In about ten minutes they returned, talk- Fig, 102. VEERY ON NEST. ed some more and went off again. Evidently they thought the camera was something that would remove its unwelcome presence after awhile and they were going to wait for it to go. Just twice during the three days that I was present while the nest contained eggs, did the owner visit it, that is to actually alight upon the nest. Upon developing the first exposure, the nest and eggs appeared beautifully but there was not a trace of the Veery although she was standing on the edge of the nest when I pressed. the bulb. The pecond 120 Fig, 103. VEERY FEEDING HER YOUNG. 121 exposure was the one shown here, of the Veery entering the nest. The next morning the eggs had hatched. I waited until the little birds were ten days old before attempting to again photograph the parent. She was still very shy but remained in sight of the nest all the time, usually with her beak filled with food for her babies. Her mate perched on a branch hard by and, after scolding for awhile, tried to induce her to be brave by singing to her. Sometimes his “veery’’ song would ring out exceedingly loud and clear, and again it would be just a faint murmur as though the singer were a great ways off, although he sat on the same twig about thirty feet distant. Finally Mrs. Veery descended to the ground and com- menced walking in a circle about the nest, each circuit bringing her a little nearer the goal. Every time she came to the slender tube running from the camera to my place of concealment she would pause and look at it critically, then jump over it and turn quickly about to look it over again. With her head cocked to one side so comically, I could imagine her saying to herself: “It looks like a worm, but it can’t be, for I never heard of one as long as that is.” At last she hopped to the nest, all the little heads were ex- pectantly raised, mouths wide open like little yellow caverns, and my long awaited opportunity had come. Several times we went through this operation, but with the exception of the picture shown here, the results were not satisfactory to me. Several incidents happened to relieve the monotony of waiting,—incidents that tended to still further alarm and delay the return of an already shy mother bird. The thrush was just on the point of approach- ing the nest when a fusilade of shots was heard from the edge of the woods. Soon a twenty-five year old, overgrown boy appeared armed with a small repeating rifle. He pass- ed by about twenty yards distant and showed his sporting Fig. 104. Yowcan sometimes approach and take a ‘‘time”’ picture of a Wood Thrush without alarming her. 123 proclivities by firing at every animate object; when his sup- ply of these ran short he would even shoot at the surround- ing trees, just for excitement. I kept close watch to see that he did not notice the camera for he certainly would have tried to hit it, although his enthusiasm far exceeded his skill for he missed everything that he fired at while in my sight. The next diversion was occasioned by one of the several cows that were feeding in the swamp. She ambled over to the camera and persisted in eating the leaves off the branches with which I had covered it, and seemed to take it unkindly when I was forced to drive her away to protect the camera. Woop TurusHu This is the largest and handsomest of our true thrushes and, in my estimation, has a much sweeter and more pleas- ing song than any of the others, not excepting the famous Hermit Thrush that I have often heard both in breeding grounds and during migrations. The Wood Thrush song is one impossible of adequate description,—clear and _flute- like, the notes coming after regular pauses, usually in groups of threes, the last one of which is often held and vibrated. ‘These birds are heard at their best early in the morning and again just as darkness closes in about the woods. The Wood Thrush nest reminds one somewhat of that of the Robin.