BIKDS' -NESTING. 209 



and one wonders how he missed them ; but a live 

 nest, how it eludes one ! I have read of a noted 

 criminal who could hide himself pretty effectually 

 in any room that contained the usual furniture ; he 

 would embrace the support of a table so as to seem 

 part of it. The bird has studied the same art ; it 

 always blends its nest with the surroundings ; and 

 sometimes its very openness hides it ; the light itself 

 seems to conceal it. Then the birds build anew each 

 year, and so always avail themselves of the present 

 and latest combination of leaves and screens, of light 

 and shade. What was very well concealed one sea- 

 son, may be quite exposed the next. 



Going a-fishing or a-berrying is a good introduc- 

 tion to the haunts of the birds, and to their nesting- 

 places. You put forth your hand for the berries, 

 and there is a nest ; on your tread by the creeks 

 starts the sand-piper or the water-thrush from the 

 ground where its eggs are concealed, or some shy 

 wood-warbler from a bush. One day, fishing down a 

 deep wooded gorge, my hook caught on a limb over- 

 head, and on pulling it down I found I had missed 

 my trout, but had caught a humming-bird's nest. It 

 was saddled on the limb as nicely as if it had been a 

 grown part of it. 



Other collectors beside the oologists are looking 

 for birds'-nests, the squirrels and owls and jays and 

 crows. The worst depredator in this direction I 

 knew of is the fish-crow, and I warn him to keep 

 off my premises, and charge every gunner to spare 

 14 



