Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/150

 Red-eyed Vireos, Awake and Asleep 115

did not disturb the tranquillity of these little workers. who would not even wince when a cannon ﬁrecracker was exploded in the street below. When the young Vireos were a week old I began to watch their nest- ing habits at night more closely. and found that, while the male apparently roasted near by, the female invariably slept on the nest At from lifteen to twenty minutes after sundown she was regularly at her post. and even at

THE BIRD SHOWN IN FRECEDDG PICTURE. ASLEEI' os HER NESl

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this hour usually fast asleep, So profound, indeed, were her slumbers, that I could often enclose her in my hand and stroke her feathers without awaking herr She slept with her head twisted hack and buried deep in the feathers between the shoulders, An apparently headless trunk or a little ball of feathers was all that could be seen, and the only motion discernr ible came from the regular pulsations of breathing.

In this manner the mother apparently passed the night, unless disturbed. When aroused by a ruder movement of the hand. she would peck feebly at a raised ﬁnger, but if not further molested the eyes would gradually