Vol. XVI II 

 igoi 



~j MK^Vt'STKR, An Ornit/iological Mystery. "? 2 1^ 



brilliantly green surface when I saw, only a few paces away, a 

 light yellowish object which I took, at first, to be the crown of an 

 old straw hat, but which, on nearer inspection, proved to be a 

 nest unlike any that I had ever before found. It was a domed 

 structure, somewhat resembling that made by our field mouse 

 but fiatter and broader. The materials, also, were coarser and more 

 skilfully and substantially put together, being firmly interwoven 

 about the edges with the stems of the surrounding grasses. The 

 dome was composed wholly of the stalks and blades of coarse 

 grasses, perfectly dry and bleached to a dull yellowish hue. I 

 examined this nest for some time before I could discover its 

 entrance, for the slightly arched top seemed at first to unite every- 

 where with the sides and bottom. But by stooping low I at 

 length detected in the side towards the east a circular hole of 

 about the size of that made by our Downy Woodpecker, and 

 sheltered above b}' a sort of hood which projected out over it 

 from the edge of the dome. Leading directly to this opening 

 was a well-worn run-way over which, for a distance of five or six 

 inches from the nest, the short living grasses had been bent down 

 and loosely intertwined so as to form an effective yet inconspic- 

 uous screen. On still closer examination I found that the nest 

 was certainly that of some bird, for the interior was roomy and 

 carefully finished while the bottom had that unmistakable saucer 

 shape common to most birds' nests. The lining was of coarse, 

 dry grass blades neatly and smoothly arranged. Apparently the 

 structure was only just completed for it was quite empty arid there 

 were no signs to indicate that it had ever contained eggs or 

 young. 



Mr. Faxon saw it in sifii a few days later. I kept it under 

 close observation for a week or more but although I was careful 

 not to disturb it, even by tramping down the grass by which it 

 was surrounded, it must have been deserted immediately after my 

 first visit for no eggs were laid in it. Nor was the ' Kicker ' 

 heard again in that locality. He was the only bird of any kind 

 that I found in or near the meadow, which, by the way, was 

 overrun by cats and dogs belonging to houses in the immediate 

 neighborhood. No doubt some of these animals either killed or 

 drove away both him and his mate. 



