Illustrations of the Method 



45 



to several slender stems of Spiraea, amid a dense tangle of Ceph- 



alanthus, wild roses, and purple milkweeds. The situation was 



so attractive and offered such fine opportunities for 



studying these birds that, notwithstanding the water 



and mud, I determined to make careful prepar- B - 



ations. A space four feet square was at once 



cleared of bushes at one side of the nest. In order to skv the 



The Red " 



Fig- 33- Male Redwing Blackbird feeding young. 



birds, the nesting twigs were slightly raised, but none of these 

 were severed or otherwise displaced. 



On the ninth of July I built a raft or platform on the cleared 

 area, and painted it green, which was soon found to be an un- 

 necessary precaution. When weighted with the observer and 



