BIRD-NESTING WITH BURROUGHS 21 



exhibits, in primitive form, the motive which impels one 

 again and again to look for the nest of a more or less com- 

 mon bird whose home has been discovered many times be- 

 fore. And, finally, as Mr. Burroughs has said, ''Bird-nest- 

 ing is by no means a failure even though you find no birds ' 

 nests. You are sure to find other things of interest, plenty 

 of them." 



A Phoebe's Nesting-sites 



Perhaps, after all, this is the secret of the perennial 

 charm of bird-nesting. The discovery of the nest is only 

 the crowning event of a quest which has been filled with 

 pleasant incidents. Certain it is that in the outing here 

 briefly described, there were ' ' other things of interest ' ' be- 

 sides birds' nests and "plenty of them," too. First among 

 them was the presiding genius of "Slabsides;" one could 

 not imagine a fitter companion with whom to go a-nesting ; 

 for, be the paradox especially noted, the enjoyments of 

 nest-hunting are doubled when you halve them. 



Then there was Slabsides itself, ideal haunt for man and 

 bird, and round about were inviting wooded hills, with here 

 and there cultivated valleys between them and, not far 

 away, fields and orchards. 



Through these pleasantly varied surroundings, on the 

 morning of June 16, 1900, we wandered, visiting old ac- 

 quaintances as well as searching for new ones. It was not 

 to be expected that a passing tour of observation and inves- 



