54 



THE OOLOGIST 



were built in the mangrove trees while 

 much the larger number were found 

 upon the sand at a very few inches ele- 

 vation above the tide. Now while the 

 nests on the ground were mainly con- 

 structed of coarse grass and rushes, re- 

 sembling straw, and were poorly built, 

 the nests in the trees were found to be 

 well built, being mainly constructed of 

 heavy sticks to withstand the wear and 

 tear of time and storm. If this is not 

 an instance of reasoning in birds then 

 there is no such a qualification in animal 

 life in any of its many and varied de- 

 grees. 



The Cuckoos construct poor nests; in 

 many instances mere platforms of twigs 

 much like the nest of the Passenger 

 Pigeon, but usually provided with some 

 lining, often the blossoms of the beech 

 or willow. On this nearly level top are 

 laid the eggs which are on the verge of 

 ruin most of the time when the old bird 

 is away. 



The Whippoorwill is another peculiar 

 nester who lays its eggs on the bare dry 

 leaves, and without a sign of prepara- 

 tion. It is quite possible, yes and even 

 probable (for Audubon says it is so) 

 that the Whippoorwill removes its eggs 

 from place to place when necessary. I 

 have seen an instance in the case of the 

 nearly allied Nighthawk where the eggs 

 were removed by some means, and I 

 believe through the bird's agency. If 

 this power exists, why should the birds 

 build a nest? 



Among the specialists in choice, the 

 Black-capped Chickadee is a remarkable 

 instance of selection of the fur and hair 

 of animals. This energetic little fellow 

 will look up some small dead mammal 

 and pick off the delicate fur for its nest 

 in the hole in the stump. Perfectly 

 clean fur is chosen, and the result is a 

 very soft, warm nest in the cavity. The 

 fur, which is almost invariably mixed 

 with dried mosses, shreds of which are 

 still green, and also downy substances 

 from catkins containing reddish bunch- 



es; all making a very pleasing combi- 

 nation. On this bed in the cavity are 

 laid the six to eight delicate white eggs 

 spotted with reddish. I have met with 

 but one nest unprovided with fur, and 

 this occurred in the village where the 

 little Titmouse had taken up its unusual 

 spring abode. Rabbits or mouse's fur 

 is generally selected, but there are 

 nearly a dozen small mammals to select 

 from, and I have seen the long hairs 

 from the coon and woodchuck appro- 

 priated by these little birds. Nothing 

 lacking in the artistic, or wanting in 

 comfort is ever chosen by these little 

 inhabiters of cavities. It is a pleasure 

 to watch the nesting habits of the Tit- 

 mouse from the first peck in the decayed 

 stump to the time that the young leave 

 their cavity home and follow their live- 

 ly parents about the grove. 



Another cavity nest builder, and one 

 belonging to the same family, is the 

 White-breasted Nuthatch. This little 

 up-side-down bird as I call it, in allus- 

 ion to a common position in movements, 

 selects a cavity ready made when op- 

 portunity offers, but can dig out a bur- 

 row in the decayed wood if necessary. 

 It follows that holes are selected of all 

 sizes, and these cavities are filled after 

 the manner of the imported Sparrow 

 with all kinds of rubbish. There was 

 one nest that I examined which was 

 placed in a space between the lath and 

 siding of a house in the village, and 

 which was reached by a knot-hole. At 

 least a peck of rubbish was taken 

 through this hole to fill the cavity, and 

 the mass comprised most everything 

 that could be found in a door yard ex- 

 cepting tin cans and stones. The only 

 other native birds which I have found 

 to fill lai'ge cavities in this manner are 

 the House Wren and that curious nest 

 builder the Great Crested Flycatcher. 



Among the Warblers we meet with 

 some curious and artistic designs in 

 nest construction. The nest of the Yel- 

 low Warbler, so wisely yet curiously 



