Page:The red book of animal stories.djvu/145

 stem of the pawpaw, and up the oak. In another moment she was creeping out on the branch.

When she was right over the nest she curled round her tail, and let herself go. But it was no use. In vain she swung herself backwards and forwards, stretching herself out to her greatest length: the nest was still too



THE MOCCASON SNAKE FASCINATES THE ORIOLES

far away. The eggs she coveted were only a few inches off, but they were as much beyond her reach as if they had been miles away. At last, with a snort of disgust, she swung herself back again, and came down the oak.

The young ones were soon unhooked from their station on the pawpaw, and tucked away as before. Then,