Page:Condor7(4).djvu/7

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94 THE CONDOR VOL. VII ing chorus lasted as long as the hawk was in sight, nor did one of the little bush-tits seem to move a feather, but just sat motionless and trilled in perfect unison. It served as a unique method of protection; the whole flock had learned to act as a unit. It would have been hard for an enemy to tell wh?re a single bird was, the alarm note was so scattering, they were so quiet, and their clothing harmonized so perfectly with the shadows of the foliage. Millions of destructive insects lay their eggs, live and multiply in the buds and bark of trees, and it seems to be the bush-tit's life work to keep this horde of insects in check. After the little family left their home. [ never found them quiet fora PARlENTS BRINGING CUT-WORldS TO YOUNG ; TWO PHOTOGRAPHS minute. When they took possession of a tree, they took it by storm. It looked as if it had suddenly grown wings, and every limb was alive. They turned every leaf, looked into every cranny, and scratched up the moss and lichens. They hung by their toes to peek into every bud, they swung around the branches to pry into every crack, then, in a few moments, they tilted off to the next tree to continue the hunt. Portland, Oregon.'