The AuduboD Socieries 211 



4. What creatures besides birds make nests? 



5. How early do you hear birds in the morning? How late in the evening? 



6. Which birds sing first in the morning and last at night? 



7. Do birds ever sing during the night? 



8. Are soft-bodied or hard-bodied insects fed to nestling birds? Why? 



9. Do nestling birds get any water to drink? 



10. How are the nests of birds protected from heat, rain and wind? 



11. How does the nest of the English Sparrow compare with that of other birds? 



12. Do birds of a kind always build the same kind of nest? 



13. How would you go to work to construct a Robin's nest? a Chipping Sparrow's? 

 a Woodpecker's? a Chimney Swift's? 



14. Where and how would you place a nest to make it secure? 



References: Nestlings of Forest and Marsh, by Irene G. Wheelock; The Home 

 Life of Wild Birds, by W. H. Herrick; Food of the Bob white, by Margaret M. Nice; 

 Journal of Economic Entomology, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1910; The Food of Nestling Birds, by 

 Sylvester D. Judd, Yearbook of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1900; Birds' Nests and Eggs, 

 by F. M. Chapman, Guide Leaflet No. 14, Supplement to American Museum Journal, 

 Vol. IV, No. 2; The Nature-Study Review; Field and School Bird Note-Book, No. i 

 by Anna B. Comstock. — A. H. W. 



FROM ADULT AND YOUNG OBSERVERS 



A NEST IN A NEST 



A large hornets' nest, measuring about four feet in length and two feet 

 across its greatest width, hung as a much-admired trophy on the front porch of 

 a country home in Middle Tennessee. A pair of Wrens chose it as the place for 

 their home, and were soon busy making it to their liking. 



They chose an opening in the upper side of the huge hornets' nest, and 

 there fashioned their own snug little nest. 



The four little boys living in the country home enjoyed to the utmost 

 watching the busy little birds. 



The nest hung within three feet of the front door of the dwelling, but the 

 frequent passing in and out of the door did not seem to disturb the birds in the 

 least. Soon seven eggs were in the nest. 



How impatient the four boys became, waiting for the baby birds to break 

 the shell! At last the day came when the cry of seven little hungry Wrens 

 was heard. 



Then the old birds were very busy feeding the little Wrens until they were 

 strong enough to fly away from their "nest in a nest." — Hilda Thoma, Tul- 

 lahoma, Tenn. 



[An unusual observation, showing the adaptability of birds in the selection of nesting- 

 sites. Since Wrens raise two and three broods in a season, it would be interesting to 

 know whether the hornet's nest sheltered more than one brood. — A. H. W.l 



