BIRD STUDY 29 



forests, the former seek unused chimneys, while 

 the latter will gladly accept the proffer of a bird- 

 house. One of the little chalets under the eave 

 of our house in the country has had a Tree 

 Swallow as tenant for several years. The Song 

 Sparrow, a ground-nesting bird, now and then 

 builds in the tangle of woodbine that covers the 

 end of our barn. Our constant friend, the 

 Phoebe, formerly nested in caves, under shelter- 

 ing ledges and banks, but now finds a desirable 

 site for her well built nest under a bridge, in the 

 barn cellar, or in an unused building. 

 ^ The House Wren seeks very unusual nesting 

 sites. A box is a favorite place, but an old shoe, 

 an empty oil-can, or any hole or crevice large 

 enough to receive the tiny structure will do. 

 A friend told me of finding a House Wren's nest 

 in the pocket of a carpenter's apron which had 

 hung in the wood-house unused for several 

 weeks. So much at home did the little sprite 

 seem that my friend had not the heart to dis- 

 turb her domestic arrangements, and the apron 

 was not moved until the brood had left their 

 quaint home. 



A great deal could be written about the nest- 

 ing of birds, but perhaps this will suffice to show 

 how varied are their habits. No phase of bird 

 study is more attractive, or more worthy of 

 study. In nearly all States wise laws have 

 been passed regarding the taking of birds' eggs, 

 and they may be collected only for strictly 

 scientific purposes. But most boys and girls 

 today have learned that the eggs are most inter- 

 esting when seen in the nest, and left to hatch 



