2S<. 



THE BUSH-')- 



il «»iit nuiri' daintily. 'l"lii>, l)v the way, is im famil'iil cuin])arisi)n, f'>r llicrc 

 is a strong strain <if Wicn 1)1<m>(1 in I'usli-'I'it's veins. 



Ncst-builflinj; bcRins on Piigct Sonntl aliont llit middle of March, at a 

 time when tlie sliriibljery is only l)eginning to leaf, l-'arly nests, like the one 

 in our illustration, may I)c perfectly expused. Indeed, the birds ap])ear to Ix* 

 at no |)ains to eiTect concealment, bnt trust to the general protection afforded 

 by the presence of other such masses, the withered jjanicles of "ocean spray" 

 or spir.ea. drooping mosses, and cnllectinns of nnfalleii leaves, in the draiwries 

 of the nnderforest. The pendant |)onch is C"imp<ised chiefly of moss made 

 fast by vegetable fibres and cob-webs, and snngly felted with vegetable dnwns. 

 The lining is comiMtsed sometimes exdnsively of white felt, but oftener of 

 plant-down mingled with wool, fnr. or feathers. 



Egg-laying may begin as srxm as the nest is decently framed, or again, il 

 may be deferred fur a week <ir len days after the strnctme is practically com- 



p 1 e t e. B n t, 

 however that 

 may be. the 

 birds never rest 

 fnini their la- 

 bors. A Rush- 

 Tit's nest is 

 like the J.imes- 

 t o w n F a i r. 

 never linished. 

 The nest must 

 be ornamented 

 w i t h lichens, 

 spider- 

 egg cases, bits 

 of tissue jja- 

 per.— in short, whatever takes the fancy of the birds in the course of their 

 restless forays. The interior furnishings, likewise, must be continually aug- 

 mented. If the Ixittom of the nest was only an inch thick at the outset, it is 

 built up from within until it attains a thickness of two or three inches. Even 

 tho the eggs Ix? near to hatching, the thrifty housewife, as she returns from 

 an airing, must needs lug in a beakfnl of feathers, which it would have In-en 

 a shame to waste, you know. I'esides this, the male bird has two or three 

 .shanties under construction in the neighlKirhood. upon which he can ])rolit- 

 ablv put in those tedious hours between three a. m. and sunset. 



The mother Tit lays six or eight pearly white eggs, and these the Steller 

 Tay counts (piite the daintiest item on his bill of fare. Hence, of all the 

 nush-Tils* nests one sees in a season. f\illy half have lieen slit open and 



/'/,„/,. bj. petals. 



R^lilman .md l-inl.-y. 



