YELLOW WARBLER 
them alighted on my shoulder by mistake in 
her hurry to reach the nest over which I was 
bending. She was surprised but not alarmed, 
and flew at once to her work when I withdrew. 
As in the case of all birds’ nests, the ma- 
terial brought was shaped to suit by a turning 
or wriggling of the little mother round and 
round in the chosen spot, tucking ragged 
ends in, scratching other places out, until 
it felt comfortable and looked smooth. 
Even with these wee builders there 1s much 
individuality, some of their nests being round 
and trim with a nicely moulded edge, others 
simply twisted togetherand fastened so loosely 
that the least spreading of the branches by 
the wind causes them to tip over. One little 
nest that we found in a small broad-leaved 
sapling had two of the leaves fastened down 
over it in the weaving so as to form a com- 
plete shelter and protection from the wind. 
The little mother flew in at the side, and sat 
with her head toward the opening, perfectly 
concealed from curious eyes, yet having full 
view of all her neighbors’ doings. 
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