The Audubon Societies 369 



in which it is found, and the key will prove practicable only for such nests as 

 are fairly well preserved. 



Ninety per cent of the nests found by children in northeastern United States 

 will belong to one of the following nine birds that are common and whose nests 

 are conspicuous when the leaves fall: Catbird, Chipping Sparrow, Goldfinch, 

 Baltimore Oriole, Redstart, Robin, Song Sparrow, Red-eyed Vireo, and Yel- 

 low Warbler. The nests of birds that build on the ground are not ordinarily 

 found except when they are occupied and can be identified by seeing the birds 

 themselves. In this key, therefore, they are grouped together to save space. 



For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the use of keys, the follow- 

 ing brief explanation is given: The first section of the key divides the nests into 

 eleven divisions. First determine in which of these a nest belongs, and then 

 turn at once to that division and trace it through. Whenever a letter is doubled 

 or trebled, it indicates alternative conditions, and after determining under which 

 one the nest falls, the others are ignored and the tracing continued under the 

 correct heading. — A. A. A. 



KEY TO THE NESTS OF THE COMMON SUMMER RESIDENT BIRDS OF 

 NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA 



A. On the ground or in tussocks of grass I 



AA. In the ground (in burrows) II 



AAA. Above ground, in bushes or trees, on cliffs, or about buildings 



B. Hanging or semi-pensile nests Ill 



BB. Not hanging 



C. In holes in trees or in bird-boxes IV 



CC. Not in holes 



D. Containing sticks or large twigs V 



DD. With no sticks 



E. Felted nests of cottony materials VI 



EE. Not felted 



F. Containing an inner layer of mud VII 



FF. With no mud 



G. Covered with lichens VIII 



GG. With no lichens 



H. Mostly of bark, fibers, and rootlets, with or 



without horsehair lining IX 



HH. Mostly of grasses, rootlets, straws, and leaves, 

 usually with horsehair in the lining 



J. Not spherical X 



J J. Spherical nests XI 



I. On the Ground or in Tussocks of Grass: These nests are seldom found except 

 when occupied, and then can be identified by the birds. Only a list will be 

 given. See also spherical nests. 



In Fields: Bobolink, Bob-white, Field Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Horned 

 Lark, Killdeer, Meadowlark, Nighthawk, Pheasant, Savannah Sparrow, Song 

 Sparrow, Spotted Sandpiper, Vesper Sparrow. 



In Woods: Black and White Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Canadian Warbler, Her- 

 mit Thrush, Junco, Louisiana Water-Thrush, Mourning Warbler, Ovenbird, 

 Ruffed Grouse, Song Sparrow, Towhee, Veery, Water-Thrush, Whip-poor-will, 

 Woodcock. 



In Marshes: Bittern, Black Duck, Black Tern, Coot, Florida Gallinule, King 

 Rail, Loon, Marsh Hawk, Maryland Yellow-throat, Pied-billed Grebe, Short- 

 eared Owl, Sora Rail, Swamp Sparrow, Virginia Rail, Wilson's Snipe. 



