68 THE SECOND BOOK OF BIRDS 
be seen in a flock, all engaged in catching flies. 
But like the cedar-bird, he is also fond of berries. 
When berries are ripe on the pepper-trees, he 
comes nearer to houses to feast on the beautiful 
red clusters. 
The song of this bird is said to be fine, and 
like many other birds, he sometimes utters a 
sweet whisper song. 
The nest is placed on a branch, not very high 
up in a tree, and is often, perhaps always, made 
of flower stems with the flowers on, with fine 
strips of bark, grasses, and plant down. 
W hat is curious, and rare among birds, the male 
phainopepla insists on making the nest himself. 
He generally allows his mate to come and look 
on, and greets her with joyous song, but he will 
not let her touch it till allis done. Sometimes 
he even drives her away. When all is ready for 
sitting, he lets her take her share of the work, 
but even then he appears to sit as much as she. 
Miss Merriam found a party of these birds on 
some pepper-trees, and to her we owe most of 
what we know of their habits. 
