220 Bird - Lore 



took them down to the lake shore and let them bathe in the lake. Later 

 they flew down of their own accord, but they never slighted the pan of 

 water and seemed to enjoy it as much as the lake. We could hear them 

 splashing in the pan of water soon after daylight, and often late in the 

 evening. 



The two Crows stayed around our cabin until long after we left the lake 

 in September, and we are wondering if they will be there to greet us when 

 we go to the lake next June. — Margaret E. Wentling (age 13 years), 

 St. Paul, Minn. 



[Observations on pet birds that have their liberty often yield most interesting and valuable 

 results and shed light on the actions of their wild brothers that often can be observed only 

 intermittently and with great difficulty. A pet Crow is always an education to anyone who 

 cares for him but one must be ready to give him considerable attention. The Editor's pet 

 Crows have likewise always been fond of bathing. — .\. \. .\.] 



A BLUEBIRD'S NEST IN A MAIL BOX 



Last spring (1920), on May 17, a male and female Bluebird were seen 

 looking into the mail-box on the front porch. They flew around the porch 

 several times, then Mrs. Bluebird lit on the water-spout near the mail-box, 

 while Mr. Bluebird flew over to the mail-box and looked in. Mrs. Bluebird 

 remained on the water-spout, apparently unconcerned. After the male 

 bird had dodged in and out of the mail-box several times the female decided 

 to have a look for herself, and she fluttered down. Mr. Bluebird flew over 

 to the porch rail and sat there twittering and flapping his wings in great 

 excitement. Mrs. Bluebird peeped into the box and seeming to think it 

 very nice popped in the rest of the way. 



The next day (the i8th) they started their nest, flying in and out of the 

 mail-box all day with bits of grass, small twigs, and other things suitable 

 for the nest of a Bluebird. In two or three days the birds had completed 

 the interior of their home. 



Father feared that the birds would not stay if everyone entered by way 

 of the front porch, so he put saw-horses across the steps. Nobody was lo- 

 go onto the porch except the mailman who left the mail in the front hall. 



On May 25th, at 7.45, father called my brother and me out on the front 

 porch. We peeped into the mail-box and there lay a little blue egg. Father 

 gently picked it out in his hand to show to us. The next morning at the 

 same time we looked and there were two eggs; the third morning, three; 

 and the fourth morning, four. On the fifth day in the morning when we 

 looked into the box there were not five eggs but four. At 4.45 p.m. father 

 looked again and there were five little blue eggs. The fifth egg was the last. 



After the eggs had been laid father took the saw-horses away from the 

 front door and people entered it as freely as they wished. During this 



