248 THE BLUEBIRD. 



wings longer and more pointed ; in other re- 

 spects not differing much from our species. 



The bluebird usually builds its nest in a 

 hole in a stump or stub, or in an old cavity 

 excavated by a woodpecker, when such can 

 be had ; but its first impulse seems to be to 

 start in the world in much more style, and 

 the happy pair make a great show of house- 

 hunting about the farm-buildings, now half 

 persuaded to appropriate a dove-cot, then 

 discussing in a lively manner a last year's 

 swallow's nest, or proclaiming with much 

 flourish and flutter that they have taken the 

 wren's house, or the tenement of the pur- 

 ple martin ; till finally nature becomes too 

 urgent, when all this pretty make-believe 

 ceases, and most of them settle back upon 

 the old family stumps and knot-holes in 

 remote fields, and go to work in earnest. 



In such situations the female is easily cap- 

 tured by approaching very stealthily and 

 covering the entrance to the nest. The bird 

 seldom makes any effort to escape, seeing 

 how hopeless the case is, and keeps her place 

 on the nest till she feels your hand closing 

 around her. I have* looked down into the 

 cavity and seen the poor thing palpitating 

 with fear and looking up with distended 



