22 Bird- Lore 



tree trunks, or even han^' their nests clown inside dark chimneys if 

 they like, but Chippy doesn't think much of such places. He wants 

 plenty of daylight and fresh air. 



But even if you have made up your mind to build on a branch, 

 think how many nice trees and bushes there are to choose from, and 

 how hard it must be to decide on one. You'd have to think a long 

 time and look in a great many places. You see you want the safest, 

 best spot in all the world in which to hide away your pretty eggs, 

 and the precious birdies that will hatch out of them. They must be 

 tucked well out of sight, for weasels and cats, and many other giants 

 like eggs and nestlings for breakfast. 



If you could find a kind family fond of birds, tion't you think it 

 would be a good thing to build near them ? Perhaps they would 

 drive aAvay the cats and help protect your brood. Then on hot 

 summer days maybe some little girl Avould think to put out a pan 

 of water for a drink and a cool bath. Some people, like Dick's 

 friends, are so thoughtful they throw out crumbs to save a tired 

 mother bird the trouble of having to hunt for every morsel she 

 gets to give her brood. Just think what work it is to find worms 

 enough for four children who want food from daylight to dark I 



The vines of a piazza make a safe, good place for a nest if you 

 are' sure the people haven't a cat, and love birds. I once saw a 

 Chippy's nest in the vines of a dear old lady's house, and when she 

 would come out to see how the eggs were getting on she would talk 

 so kindly to the old birds it was very pleasant to live there. In such 

 a place your children are protected, they have a roof over their little 

 heads so the rains won't beat down on them, and the vines shade 

 them nicely from the hot sun. 



When you are building your house everything you want to use 

 will be close by. On the lawni you will find the soft grasses you 

 want for the outside, and in the barnyard you can get the long horse 

 hairs that all Chipping Sparrows think they must have for a dry, 

 cool nest-lining. Hair-birds, you know^ Chippies are called, they 

 use so much hair. The question is how can they ever find it unless 

 they do live near a barn? You go to look for it. someday, out on 

 a country road or in a pasture. It takes sharp eyes and a great 

 deal of patience, I guess you'll find then. But if you live on the 

 piazza of a house, with a barn in the back yard, you can find so 

 many nice long hairs that you can sometimes make your whole nest 

 of them. I have seen a Chippy's nest that hadn't another thing in 

 it — that was just a coil of black horse hair. 



After you have built your nest and are looking for food for 

 your young it is most convenient to be near a house. The worms 



