The Birds' Calendar 



of the wood thrush as well), although coarsely 

 made and inelegant, is unusual in consisting of 

 three distinct layers, the outermost of various 

 coarse substances like weeds, roots, straw, etc., 

 woven together, the next layer of somewhat 

 finer material plastered together with mud, and, 

 lastly, the innermost lining of soft grass and 

 moss, the whole constituting a structure clum- 

 sy in appearance, but durable. The golden- 

 crowned warbler gets its name of oven-bird from 

 its peculiar nest, which is buik over at the top, 

 with the entrance on one side, and looking 

 much like an old-fashioned oven. It is placed 

 on the ground, made of dry leaves and grasses, 

 and lined with soft material. 



The nest of the marsh wren is still more com- 

 plex and unique. By the way, the wren family 

 is quite a gifted one ; physically diminutive, but 

 brainy. Their proclivities take different di- 

 rections, and while the winter and the house 

 wrens adopted a musical career, the marsh wren 

 became famous as an architect ; which is quite a 

 harmonious contrast, if architecture be, as some- 

 one has called it, frozen music. I quote from 

 Wilson the following description of its seaside 

 mansion : " This is formed outwardly of wet 

 rushes mixed with mud, well intertwined and 



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