102 Instinct. 



given in describing the bird as something so con- 

 stant from generation to generation, as to be worthy 

 of study as characteristics of the species. 



Among the Thrushes, the well known Robin 

 builds its rude nest of mud and grass in almost any 

 elevated place, while other birds of the same ge- 

 nus, as the Brown thrush, use no mud in the con- 

 struction of their nests and often place them upon 

 the ground. The brilliantly colored Oriole weaves 

 her pendant nest upon slender, drooping branches. 

 The nearly allied Crow-blackbird builds its nest 

 entirely unlike this, of coarse materials, on the 

 most solid basis it can select, while the Cow-black- 

 bird, like the European Cuckoo, never builds at all; 

 but deposits its eggs in the nests of other birds 

 that its young may be cared for by them. 



Most of our sparrows build simple nests upon 

 the ground, while the Chipping-sparrow, like the 

 Canada Bunting, is known as ''Tree-sparrow," 

 and also as " Hair-bird," because it generally 

 builds in trees and lines its nest with hair. 

 What can be more curious, or mark more strong- 

 ly the peculiar nature of Instinct, than that 

 thousands of birds of the same kind should form 

 nests of the same pattern, selecting materials of the, 

 same kind for the different parts, when no possible 

 reason can be given why another form would not 

 do as well for the bird and be as easy for her to 

 build! 



It is true, when we examine nests of the same 

 species in different localities, that we find difference 

 in material, difference in the perfection of the work, 



