BIRDS'-NESTS. 133 



going away from its brood with a slow, heavy 

 flight, entirely different from its manner a 

 moment before on approaching the nest with 

 a cherry or worm, it is certain to be engaged 

 in this office. One may observe the social 

 sparrow, when feeding its young, pause a 

 moment after the worm has been given, and 

 hop around on the brink of the nest, observ- 

 ing the movements within. 



The instinct of cleanliness no doubt 

 prompts the action in all cases, though the 

 disposition to secrecy or concealment may 

 not be unmixed with it. 



The swallows form an exception to the 

 rule, the excrement being voided by the 

 young over the brink of the nest. They 

 form an exception, also, to the rule of se- 

 crecy, aiming not so much to conceal the 

 nest as to render it inaccessible. 



Other exceptions are the pigeons, hawks, 

 and water-fowls. 



But to return. Having a good chance to 

 note the color and markings of the wood- 

 peckers as they passed in and out at the 

 opening of the nest, I saw that Audubon had 

 made a mistake in figuring or describing the 

 female of this species with the red spot upon 

 the head. I have seen a number of pairs 



