inter wren, from the other, low, excited calls of veeries, and nothing
but absolute quiet seems necessary to capture some of the charming
secrets of their lives. Meanwhile a dancing and singing host collects
around one's head. I call up my philosophy; I resolve not to care,
though I shall be devoured. My philosophy stands the strain; I do not
_care_; but my nerves basely fail me, and after a few moments, and a
dozen stings here and there, I spring involuntarily to my feet, wildly
flourish my wisp of leaves, and of course put to instant flight the
actors in the drama before me.

The pair of veeries in the maple bushes were never reconciled to our
visits. They called and cried in all the varied inflections of their
sweet voices, and they moved uneasily about on the low branches with
mouths full of food. But though we were as motionless as circumstances
would permit, they never learned to trust us.

One--the mother, doubtless--did sometimes pay a flying visit to her
three darlings under the leaves; but she undoubtedly felt that she took
her life in her hands (so to speak), and it did not give her courage.
She returned to her post and cried no less than before. We were not
heartless; we could not bear to torture the timid creatures, and
therefore we never stayed very long.

Every day we looked at the growing babies, who passed most of their time
in sleep, as babies should; and at last came the time, sooner than
expected, when we found the family had flitted. Nestlings cradled near
the ground seem to be spared the long period in the nest endured by
birdlings who must be able to fly before they can safely go. Young
veeries and bobolinks, song sparrows and warblers, who build low,
apparently take leave of the nursery as soon they can stand up.
Thereafter the parents must seek them on the ground; and if the student
follows their chirps, he will often see the droll little dumpy fellows
running about or crouched under bushes until their wing feathers shall
grow and lift them to the bird's world, above the dull earth.

After the exit of the family in the maples, we kept closer watch of the
remaining nest. Every day we passed it, and not always at the same hour,
yet never but once did we find the mother away, and seven days after
that morning, when not one youngster had broken the shell, the family
was gone.

The young birds in the maples we had seen in the nest for five days
after they were hatched, so we were forced to belie