attack small birds it is either, as a rule, 

 when they are very young or injured in 

 some manner. 



Its nest is usually made of sticks and 

 twigs and lined with soft fibrous strips 

 of bark, leaves and feathers that fall from 

 the breasts of the setting birds. The 

 nests are placed in either evergreen or 

 deciduous trees, and seldom more than 

 thirty or forty feet from the ground. 

 They are frequently much lower and oc- 

 casionally in the tops of very tall trees. 



Thev have been known to use the de- 

 serted nests of other birds, especially that 

 of the crow, which is nearly as large as 

 their own structure. 



Dr. Fisher says that one of its notes 

 quite closely resembles that of the wood 

 pewee. Another writer says that "their 

 call note is a peevish "chee-e-e-e," pro- 

 longed at pleasure and uttered in a high 

 key. However, to fully appreciate their 

 shrill note of complaint it must be heard." 



THE BIRD'S COMPLAINT. 



Great Nature, lend an ear while we, 



The feathered fowls of air, 

 From mead and furrow, bush and tree, 

 From pool and mountain, shore and sea, 

 With one accord pour forth to thee 



Our earnest cry and prayer. 



From lime and net, from gin and snare, 



And from those vile decoys 

 That slay their thousands unaware, 

 We pray thee save us, and declare 

 Thy wrath against what man soe'er 



Such evil means employs. 



Chasten, correct and scourge the boys 



Who count it nobly done 

 To turn to grief our marriage joys, 

 To take our precious eggs for toys, 

 And bear away with mocking noise 



The spoil so foully won. 



But most from men that use the gun. 



That engine of ill scope. 

 For refuge unto thee we run; 

 They march to slay us in the sun, 

 And through the dark, which others shun, 



Their murderous way they grope. 



Lastly, we pray thee, on the Pope 



Prevail to let us be; 

 We would not hang him in a rope. 

 And have as good a right, we hope, 

 Unstrangled under heaven's high cope, 



To live our lives as he. 



— Henry Johnstone. 



72 



