2 THE KINGBIRD'S NEST, 



Great South Bay a particularly inviting one 

 presented itself, on the top branch of a tall oak- 

 tree near my "inn of rest." It was in plain 

 sight from the veranda. The builder evidently 

 cared nothing for concealment, and relied, with 

 reason, upon its inaccessible position for safety. 

 To be sure, as days went by and oak leaves 

 grew, a fair screen for the little dwelling was 

 not lacking ; but summer breezes were kind, and 

 often blew them aside, and, better still, from 

 other points of view the nest was never hidden. 



To whom, then, did the nest belong ? I 

 hoped to the kingbird, who at that moment sat 

 demurely upon the picket fence below, appar- 

 ently interested only in passing insects; and 

 while I looked the question was answered by 

 Madame Tyrannis herself, who came with the 

 confidence of ownership, carrying a beakful of 

 building material, and arranging it with great 

 pains inside the structure. This was satisfac- 

 tory, for I did not know the kingbird in do- 

 mestic life. 



For several days it seemed uncertain whether 

 the kingbirds would ever really occupy the nest, 

 so spasmodic was the work upon it. Now one of 

 the pair came with a bit of something, placed it, 

 tried its effect this way and that, and then dis- 

 appeared ; while for hours every day both might 

 be seen about the place, hunting insects and tak- 



