ii4 Wild Birds 



The snow and storms of winter usually knock the bottom 

 out of the Vireos' pendent nests, but some remain whole for over 

 a year. Wilson speaks of finding the nest of the Yellow Warbler 

 built inside of an old Vireo's nest. The deer mouse sometimes 

 takes possession of an abandoned nest in fall, and converts it 

 into a snug globular house for itself and young. I remember 

 the feeling of astonishment which the discovery of one of these 

 converted nests gave me when a boy at school, and of wondering 

 to what animal those black lustrous eyes, which appeared at 

 the entrance, could belong. In this case the original frame- 

 work was concealed by a symmetrical dome of thistle-down, a 

 substance used also in lining and covering the original walls. 

 There was a small round hole or side entrance, just above the 

 old rim. When disturbed, this sleek little mouse left its warm 

 house, ran down the branch, and disappeared. 



