274 



THICKET COMMUNITIES 



The birds of the high forest margin are numerous (191). The gold- 

 finch builds a nest of thistledown, grasses, etc., on shrubs or low trees. 

 The chipping-sparrow builds its nest of rootlets and lines it with 

 horsehair. The Baltimore and orchard orioles nest in trees and high 

 shrubs and feed in the open. The field sparrow sometimes builds- 

 on the rank weeds, in other cases on shrubs near the ground. The 

 mourning dove, the indigo bunting, and the yellow warbler nest on 

 shrubs; the latter often builds near water. The redstart builds in the 

 forks of bushes and trees. The loggerhead shrike is common. The 

 sparrow-hawk nests in deserted woodpecker holes near the edge of the 

 woods and feeds in the meadow or prairie. The flicker is similar in 



Fig. 278. — A brownie-bug (Enchenopa 

 binotata Say) ; enlarged (after Lintner) . 



Fig. 279. — One of the Mantis-like 

 neuroptera (Mantispa brunnea) ; enlarged. 



habits, but uses holes of its own making. The bronzed grackle and 

 sharp-shinned hawk nest in trees near the forest edge and feed in the 

 prairie. The cowbird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, 

 often chooses those nests of the high forest margin. 



IV. General Discussion 



The forest margin, as we have seen, possesses in addition to the char- 

 acteristic species a considerable number of species which frequent the 

 prairie or forest; our list includes the breeding species. The classifica- 

 tion below shows the various types of habit in birds and mammals. 



Forest Margin Birds and Mammals 

 (Compiled from literature cited) 

 H indicates high forest margin; L, low forest margin. 

 A. Breeding in the ground under the shrubs; feeding in the meadows or 

 prairies and woods. 



1. Mammals: Skunk (H), Chipmunk (H), Franklin ground squirrel (H), 

 Jumping mouse (H). Feed chiefly in woods. 



2. Birds: No birds have this habit. 



