154 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



sparrows build in trees or bushes ; the vesper and Ilud- 

 sonian on the ground, while the English sparrow will 

 put its nest in a tree, bush, vine, or in a niche in the 

 wall ; the song sparrow usually nests on the ground, 

 but occasionally it will build in a thick bush or low tree. 

 The past summer I found three of these nests in ever- 

 greens, and one was occupied by two broods in the sea- 

 son. Brush heaps, especially by the roadside and in 

 orchards, are favorite places of this domestic little bird. 

 Most of the thrushes {Tiirdidce) prefer trees or bushes, 

 but like the finches they never place the nest very high. 

 Wilson's thrush and the brown thrashers usually nest 

 on the ground, though the latter will occasionally use 

 for the purpose a thick bush or low tree. The robins, 

 like the English sparrows, seem to have modified their 

 habits by civilization and intercourse with man, and 

 build in all kinds of places, in trees, bushes, in out- 

 buildings, on fence rails, and even on verandas of dwell- 

 ings. Wrens utilize knot holes in trees or buildings, 

 cavities in stumps and fence posts or boxes placed in 

 the lawns and gardens ; these little chatterers are fond 

 of human companionship, and, like the cat-birds, are 

 far more musical when assured of a listener. I have 

 heard one in a morning repeat his delightful httle song 

 of "Wren! wren! wee, wee, butter, butter," more than 

 a hundred times, just over ni}^ head and but a few feet 

 from his nest ; then when I have hidden away from his 

 sight, tliough still in hearing, he has remaijied for a 

 long time as silent as a mouse. Chickadees, nuthatches 

 and woodpeckers almost invariably use holes in stumps, 



