A SHORT STUDY OF BIRDS'-NESTS. 483 



proximity to abundant food, and this may have had some influence in 

 the choice of location. As an instance, one of these seven nests was 

 placed in a deep cleft in the trunk of an apple-tree. It had a southern 

 exposure, was protected from rain by the trunk and branches of the 

 tree, and, altogether was admirably located. But, as the tree itself 

 had an abundance of branches, and for many summers had had nests 

 upon it, there seemed to be some reason in the location now first oc- 

 cupied. What, indeed, was the cause of this change from the branches 

 to the cleft, I could not discover. The nest itself was merely a few 

 coarse twigs for extra support of the " clay fabric," which was placed 

 so as to resemble a modified clitF-swallow's nest more than that of any 

 other bird. If, now, young birds build nests through imitation, then 

 the young robins reared in this nest will seek out somewhat similar 

 situations for their own nests ; but if such a locality did not suit the 

 bird's mate, then a nest in a moi - e exposed position would be built, 

 but, I doubt not, with some of the peculiarities of the nest in which it 

 was reared. 



In comparing the eleven typical nests of the robin, it could not 

 but be noticed that minor differences or peculiarities existed. These 

 small variations were such as size, which was, in fact, considerable ; 

 in shape, some of the nests being rather oval than circular ; in the 

 choice of material for the interior lining, which, I am sorry to say was, 

 in one instance, suspiciously similar to the lining of the nest Of the 

 chipping sparrow, and was probably stolen. Indeed, among robins, 

 as well as all other birds, there are individual rogues, as well as cross- 

 grained, scolding wives and husbands. 



Taking a careful survey of the wdiole thirty-two nests, they sug- 

 gested at once an ordinary village : there were handsome structures, 

 such as opulence builds, and very modest ones, such as those in 

 straitened circumstances are compelled to occupy ; and, while the 

 same causes for this variation in dwelling-places does not obtain 

 among birds as among mankind, causes do exist among the birds, 

 in many ways analogous. For instance, there are energetic birds and 

 lazy ones. There are plucky birds that will overcome obstacles, and 

 despondent ones that are easily cast down ; and will not this of itself 

 account for a great deal in the variations of birds'-nests ? Can it be 

 doubted that birds differ greatly in their temperaments ? Who, that 

 has kept canaries, has not noticed that, while some are cross, others 

 are affectionate, others lively, and, again, others moody that their 

 dispositions were nearly as varied as in mankind? If it is admitted 

 that variation in disposition exists among birds, may we not go a 

 step farther, and claim also differences in mental ability that, in 

 plain language, the "smarter" bird will build the better nest? One 

 reason why nests do not vary more than they do, simply, is a mud- 

 lined nest being best suited to a robin's w r elfare that a bird reared 

 in a poorly -constructed nest may be of gi'eater ability and more 



