l62 



Bird -Lore 



were driven in for 

 milking or a wagon 

 was moved out. 



The work of nest- 

 building very soon 

 became a most ab- 

 sorbing matter to all 

 of the birds. Eight 

 of the old nests were 

 capped over with a 

 layer of fresh mud, 

 and then relined 

 with a few dry grass 

 blades and plenty 

 of chicken feathers 

 neatly arranged to 

 make the softest, 

 springiest bed. This 

 saved infinite 

 trouble, since no 

 foundation had to 

 be laid ; but the effect 

 was ludicrous on account of this year's mud being black, coming as it did 

 from the horse- trough overflow; while that of the year before was reddish, 

 and the layers below, brown or yellow. Nearly all of these nests had four 

 or five "stories," showing how very durable is the work. 



One pair, which I soon grew to recognize from the others and which 

 evidently were young birds, began to build a foundation close to an old nest 

 once more occupied; but after three days' mud hauling they were driven 

 away by the pair nearby, who then began to carry mud to the new nest as 

 well as to their own, as though undecided which to use. The young pair now 

 boldly started a nest against the rough surface of a crossbeam in the shed roof, 

 rather than in the eaves where there was a support. 



These two birds flew to the stickiest mud hole to be found near the trough 

 and, alighting at the edge, gingerly walked a step or two, jabbed their bills 

 into the mud, and pulled up a big mouthful, which invariably took such exertion 

 as to require constant balancing with the wings. Sometimes they would be in 

 a row of hovering Swallows, all grabbing mud for all they were worth. Small 

 roots and grass helped to hold the rather large mass together while being 

 carried in the bill to the beam, where the bird caught hold of the splinters 

 with its feet, and balancing by flapping its wings, firmly plastered the mud 

 into the grain of the wood. Some of this fell off, but enough remained to help 

 hold much more when it had hardened overnight. 



