140 BIRDS'-NESTS. 



irith a superstructure of moss, elaborately lined with 

 hair and feathers. Nothing can be more perfect and 

 exquisite than the interior of one of these nests, yet a 

 new one is built every season. Three broods, how- 

 ever, are frequently reared in it. 



The pewees, as a class, are the best architects \io 

 have. The king-bird builds a nest altogether admir^ 

 able, using various soft cotton and woolen substances, 

 and sparing neither time nor material to make it sub- 

 stantial and warm. The green-crested pewee builds 

 its nest in many instances wholly of the blossoms of 

 the white-oak. The wood pewee builds a neat, com- 

 pact, socket-shaped nest of moss and lichens on a 

 horizontal branch. There is never a loose end or 

 shred about it. The sitting bird is largely visible 

 above the rim. She moves her head freely about 

 and seems entirely at her ease, — a circumstance 

 which I have never observed in any other species. 

 The nest of the great-crested flycatcher is seldom 

 free from snake skins, three or four being sometimes 

 woven into it. 



About the thinnest, shallowest nest, for its situa- 

 tion, that can be found is that of the turtle-dove. A 

 few sticks and straws are carelessly thrown together, 

 hardly sufficient to prevent the eggs from falling 

 \hrough or rolling off. The nest of the passenger 

 ^>igeon is equally hasty and insufficient, and the squabs 

 often fall to the ground and perish. The other ex- 

 treme among our common birds is furnished by the 

 ferruginous thrush, which collects t-^gether a mas* 



