348 FRANCIS H. HERRICK 



that already described. In point of time this nest was the first 

 to be studied, when unfortunately our attention had not been 

 directed to the alternation in the direction of the turning move- 

 ments already discussed. 



Treatment of White and Colored Nest Material. — When this 

 nest was first noticed a quantity of red, white and blue yarn, 

 in addition to white hens' feathers and strips of white cotton 

 cloth were strewn over the ground and suspended from poles 

 in the vicinity of the nesting tree. In less than ten minutes 

 the female robin went after the white yarn and brought two 

 large loads of it in succession to the nest site. Cedarbirds have 

 repeatedly taken yarns of all colors, indifferently, and worked 

 them into what became very gaudy nests, but these robins disre- 

 garded all but the white, of which they carried seven loads to their 

 nest on the first day taking it only off the ground. This yarn 

 was cut into one and two foot lengths, and the manner in which 

 it was treated proved interesting. The first white streamers 

 were brought by the female, and after the usual molding move- 

 ments, were left hanging from the nest branch. After stepping 

 out of the nest, she detected them at once and seizing them 

 with her bill, tried ineffectively to pull them on to the site, 

 molding and turning as before. Returning immediately with 

 more of the yarn she stood on the nest and tried to draw in 

 the threads with her bill, but after much effort accomplished 

 little, for the ends were still hanging free. Shortly after this 

 the male dropped to the garden plot, gathered up several white 

 strings and bore them to the tree, where they brought him up to a 

 short turn by catching on a stub. He at first tried to release 

 them by facing the nest and putting his whole force into a lateral 

 strain. Failing in this he faced around and pulled; failing 

 again, he advanced and taking up a little of the slack pulled again. 

 I suppose no one would deny that intelligence was displayed 

 in this act, but it should also be noted that his intelligence 

 did not carry him to the point of going to the obstruction and 

 actually freeing the thread. In this instance the yarn was 

 released, but in others it held fast and there remained when 

 the nest was completed. 



It was noticed at this nest that when the male sounded an 

 alarm the effect upon the working female was sometimes merely 

 to cause her to sit quietly for a few seconds, but this evidently 



