BIRDS'-NESTS. 



How alert and vigilant the birds are, even 

 when absorbed in building their nests ! In 

 an open space in the woods, I see a pair of 

 cedar-birds collecting moss from the top of a 

 dead tree. Following the direction in which 

 they fly, I soon discover the nest placed in 

 the fork of a small soft-maple, which stands 

 amid a thick growth of wild-cherry trees 

 and young beeches. Carefully concealing 

 myself beneath it, without any fear that the 

 workmen will hit me with a chip or let fall 

 a tool, I await the return of the busy pair. 

 Presently 1 hear the well-known note, and 

 the female sweeps down and settles unsus- 

 pectingly into the half-finished structure. 

 Hardly have her wings rested, before her eye 

 has penetrated my screen, and with a hurried 

 movement of alarm, she darts away. In a 

 moment, the male, with a tuft of wool in his 

 beak (for there is a sheep pasture near), 

 joins her, and the two reconnoitre the prem- 

 ises from the surrounding bushes. With 



