162 BfRVS'-NESTS. 



The pewees, as a class, are the best archi- 

 tects we have. The king-bird builds a nest 

 altogether admirable, using various soft cot- 

 ton and woollen substances, and sparing nei- 

 ther time nor material to make it substantial 

 and warm. The green-crested pewee builds 

 its nest in many instances wholly of the 

 blossoms of the white-oak. The wood pewee 

 builds a neat, compact, socket-shaped nest of 

 moss and lichens on a horizontal branch. 

 There is never a loose end or shred about it. 

 The sitting bird is largely visible above the 

 rim. She moves her head freely about, and 

 seems entirely at her ease, a circumstance 

 which I have never observed in any other 

 species. The nest of the great-crested fly- 

 catcher is seldom free from snake skins, 

 three or four being sometimes woven into it. 



About the thinnest, shallowest nest, for 

 its situation, that can be found is that of the 

 turtle-dove. A few sticks and straws are 

 carelessly thrown together, hardly sufficient 

 to prevent the eggs from falling through or 

 rolling off. The nest of the passenger 

 pigeon is equally hasty and insufficient, and 

 the squabs often fall to the ground and per- 

 ish. The other extreme among our common 

 birds is furnished by the ferruginous thrush, 



