166 BIRDS-NESTS. 



First, those that repair or appropriate the 

 last year's nest, as the wren, swallow, blue- 

 bird, great-crested flycatcher, owls, eagles, 

 fish -hawk, and a few others. Secondly, 

 those that build anew each season, though 

 frequently rearing more than one brood in 

 the same nest. Of these, the phoebe-bird is 

 a well-known example. Thirdly, those that 

 build a new nest for each brood, which in- 

 cludes by far the greatest number of species. 

 Fourthly, a limited number that make no 

 nest of their own, but appropriate the aban- 

 doned nests of other birds. Finally, those 

 who use no nest at all, but deposit their 

 eggs in the sand, which is the case with a 

 large number of aquatic fowls. Thus the 

 common gull breeds in vast numbers on the 

 sand bars or sand islands off the south coast 

 of Long Island. A little dent is made in 

 the sand, the eggs are dropped, and the old 

 birds go their way. In due time the eggs 

 are hatched by the warmth of the sun, and 

 the little creatures shift for themselves. In 

 July countless numbers of them, of different 

 ages and sizes, swarm upon these sandy 

 wastes. As the waves roll out, they rush 

 down the beach, picking up a kind of sea 

 gluten, and then hasten back to avoid the 

 next breaker. 



