BIEDS AT WORK AND PLAY. 85 
It is common for a pair of birds to talk about 
housekeeping, or even to build, a long while before 
they need the nest. We have seen them hunting for 
the best spot and chatting about it, as if they were 
saying, “This will never do,” or, “This will be just 
the right place when the time comes.” 
We have seen towhees and other birds picking up 
pieces of sticks and string in November, and carrying 
them about as if they did not know what to do with 
their treasures. We should think better of them if 
they would lay the sticks and twine away in a safe 
place until they are ready to use them. They seem 
never to think of that, but drop the things wherever 
they happen to be. 
Birds like to pull at twine even if they have no use 
for it. They pick at the ends of fibrous bark, as if 
they valued most highly what costs them the most 
trouble to get. 
A lady we knew was in the habit of throwing out of 
the window the hairs which came out of her head when 
she used the comb and brush in the morning. These 
hairs were caught in a bush, and the birds discovered 
them. One day her son found a bird’s nest near the 
window, all lined with the white hairs which once 
grew on his dear mother’s head. You may be sure the 
son keeps that bird’s nest among his treasures. 
Birds are very fond of hairs of any sort for their nest 
linings. We have many times placed them within 
their reach and sight, and they will take them up. 
