148 EIRDS'-NESTS. 



a rapid, intricate warble, like that of the 

 indigo-bird, though stronger and louder. In- 

 deed, these two birds so much resemble each 

 other in color, form, manner, voice, and gen- 

 eral habits that, were it not for the differ- 

 ence in size, the grossbeak being nearly 

 as large again as the indigo-bird, it would 

 be a hard matter to tell them apart. The 

 females of both species are clad in the same 

 reddish-brown suits. So are the young the 

 first season. 



Of course in the deep, primitive woods 

 also are nests, but how rarely we find them ! 

 The simple art of the bird consists in choos- 

 ing common, neutral-tinted material, as moss, 

 dry leaves, twigs, and various odds and ends, 

 and placing the structure on a convenient 

 branch, where it blends in color with its 

 surroundings ; but how consummate is this 

 art, and how skilfully is the nest concealed ! 

 We occasionally light upon it, but who, un- 

 aided by the movements of the bird, could 

 find it out? During the present season, I 

 went to the woods nearly every day for a fort- 

 night, without making any discoveries of this 

 kind, till one day, paying them a farewell 

 visit, I chanced to come upon several nests. 

 A black and white creeping warbler suddenly 



