98 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



cealment. On the shelf at the corner of the eave 

 of our house, close against the wall of the little 

 chalet which is usually occupied by Tree Swal- 

 lows, a pair of Robins nested for three years in 

 succession, each year building the new nest over 

 the old, the structure finally reaching three 

 stories in height. 



Robins rear two or three broods each year, 

 sometimes in the same nest, often in a new one 

 at some distance from the first. This year when 

 we arrived at our country home as usual we at 

 once looked up our bird friends. We found Phoebe 

 under the roof of the porch. Chippy and Song 

 Sparrow in the vines. Tree Swallow in the little 

 green house, but no Robin in his accustomed 

 place on the grillework under the veranda. 

 They were seen, however, pulling worms about 

 the lawn, and a little watching located the nest 

 on the river bank some forty rods away. In 

 early July, as a home site for their second brood, 

 to our great delight they moved into a low elm 

 right across the road in front of the lawn. A 

 nest was soon built and they settled down to 

 their domestic affairs with all the appearance 

 of that deep satisfaction which these birds 

 exhibit during nesting time. Early one morning 

 a little later we heard a great outcry from them 

 and on going out found they had disappeared. 

 The nest showed signs of a struggle, being awry 

 and somewhat torn. Two eggs were in it,^ but 

 it was abandoned, and our regret and disap- 

 pointment were great. A pair of Shrikes were 

 seen sneaking about the grounds and the crime 

 was laid at their door by the members of our 



