32 Wild Birds 



the young which need the protection of shade, and for the sake 

 of natural appearances which we wish to preserve. 



It might be supposed that when a branch is lopped off, its 

 foliage would at once wither, and unduly expose the nest or 

 detract from the artistic value of a picture. The fact is, how- 

 ever, that there is commonly enough sap in a hard wood bough 

 of moderate size to keep the leaves fresh for several days, and 

 towards the close of life at the nest the young need no protection 

 from this source. As to this point, however, the illustrations 

 in this book will speak for themselves. When the nesting 

 branch is vertical and not too large, it can usually be kept fresh 

 for a sufficient time by setting it in a can of water, which should 

 be sunk in the ground. 



Evergreens like the pine and spruce hold their leaves bright 

 for a long time after cutting, and in this respect the various 

 deciduous trees and shrubs differ greatly, those with a hard, 

 close grain keeping fresh the longer. 



As to any injury to trees which the method may be supposed 

 to entail, it is not worth considering, since no valuable tree 

 should be mutilated without first obtaining the permission of 

 the owner, for however trifling the damage may appear, his 

 point of view is likely to be different from your own. The 

 cutting of an occasional twig or branch, even if it does not trim 

 the tree, is not regarded as an important event in this country 

 at present. If every farmer who owns orchards and woodlands 

 did his duty, he would cut out more useless wood in a year than 

 a student of birds would need to do in a decade. It should be 

 unnecessary to add that no one should set up a nest in a field, 

 and leave the trouble of removing it to the owner of the land. 



When the nest is completely exposed and the weather is 

 very hot, the young may be tempted to forsake it a day or two 

 earlier than they would naturally do, but this does not usually 

 happen and is not necessarily serious. Some Kingbirds, already 

 referred to, spent eighteen days in the nest, and were a week 

 old when it was moved. This was probably longer than com- 

 mon, and certainly longer than necessary. 



The tent not only conceals the observer but protects his 



