BIRDS'-NESTS. 127 



robin, sparrow, bluebird, pewee, wren, etc., 

 this bird sometimes seeks wild, remote local- 

 ities in which to rear its young ; at others, 

 takes up its abode near that of man. I 

 knew a pair of cedar-birds, one season, to 

 build in an apple-tree, the branches of which 

 rubbed against the house. For a day or 

 two before the first straw was laid, I noticed 

 the pair carefully exploring every branch of 

 the tree, the female taking the lead, the 

 male following her with an anxious note and 

 look. It was evident that the wife was to 

 have her choice this time ; and, like one who 

 thoroughly knew her mind, she was proceed- 

 ing to take it. Finally the site was chosen 

 upon a high branch, extending over one low 

 wing of the house. Mutual congratulations 

 and caresses followed, when both birds flew 

 away in quest of building material. That 

 most freely used is a sort of cotton-bearing 

 plant, which grows in old, worn-out fields. 

 The nest is large for the size of the bird, 

 and very soft. It is in every respect a first- 

 class domicile. 



On another occasion, while walking, or 

 rather sauntering, in the woods (for I have 

 discovered that one cannot run and read the 

 book of nature), my attention was arrested 



