BIRD&-NESTS. 147 



observations, in Louisiana is shy and re- 

 cluse, affecting remote marshes and the bor- 

 ders of large ponds of stagnant water, had 

 placed its nest in the lowest twig of the low- 

 est branch of a large sycamore, immediately 

 over a great thoroughfare, and so near the 

 ground that a person standing in a cart or 

 sitting on a horse could have reached it with 

 his hand. The nest was composed mainly 

 of fragments of newspaper and stalks of 

 grass, and, though so low, was remarkably 

 well concealed by one of the peculiar clus- 

 ters of twigs and leaves which characterize 

 this tree. The nest contained young when 

 I discovered it, and though the parent birds 

 were much annoyed by my loitering about 

 beneath the tree, they paid little attention to 

 the stream of vehicles that was constantly 

 passing. It was a wonder to me when the 

 birds could have built it, for they are much 

 shyer when building than at other times. No 

 doubt they worked mostly in the morning, 

 having the early hours all to themselves. 



Another pair of blue grossbeaks built in 

 a graveyard within the city limits. The 

 nest was placed in a low bush, and the male 

 continued to sing at intervals till the young 

 were ready to fly. The song of this bird is 



