286 BIRDS OF FIELD, FOREST AND PARK 



to grief from a quick rise of water in early June. 

 But these were at once deserted and others 

 built in safer locations so that a goodly number 

 of young were reared. 



In early May the Sparrows also scatter for 

 nesting grounds in the neighboring fields and 

 pastures. Two or three pairs of Song Sparrows 

 and a pair of Vespers remain in the orchard, 

 finding secure home sites in the tall grass. 

 Orioles and Kingbirds come by mid-May, and a 

 pair of each usually remains for the summer. 

 The Kingbirds, in searching for nest-building 

 material, come to our lawn where we hang out 

 strings of many sizes and colors. For several 

 days we see them pulling and tugging at the 

 coveted twine, then flying away with it over the 

 hill to the orchard. 



Later, when the nest is found, we marvel much 

 at the strings festooned about the branches, sev- 

 eral feet from the nest. Is this to suggest danger- 

 ous nets and snares to all creatures that happen 

 near.^ And is it the same instinct which prompts 

 his cousin, the Great Crested Flycatcher, to 

 hang outside his home the ominous snakeskin.'^ 

 Last year I visited the nest several times, and 

 was much surprised at the lack of noisy dem- 

 onstration usually made by these birds when 

 one approaches their home. In truth, it almost 

 seemed that they knew I was a friend who 

 would do them no harm, for they sat demurely 

 by while I admired the fledglings. 



By the first of August in the orchard appears 

 the vanguard of the northern army already 

 taking up the return march, and soon comes 



