Nesting Time, 



lies nearest to bill — grasses and bits 

 of straw. The woodpeckers, which get 

 their living from the bark of the trees, 

 simply peck a deeper cavity in which to 

 rear their young. 



Then, too, the young birds get their 

 first impressions of life from the nest, 

 and first impressions are always lasting 

 ones. No doubt they remember much 

 of their childhood surroundings, and 

 when the responsibilities of life are 

 thrust upon them they try to repeat 

 what they recall of their own youth. In 

 support of this idea it is found that in 

 cases of nests known to have been 

 built by inexperienced birds, the work 

 was very imperfectly done. It is also 

 well known that many birds have 

 accommodated themselves to new con- 

 ditions of life, and in taking up their 

 abodes in the vicinity of man have 

 changed their nesting habits to a greater 

 or less degree. For instance, the fa- 

 miliar chipping sparrow seldom lines her 

 nest with anything but long horse hairs, 

 196 



