214 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



repass the nest within two feet, without manifesting 

 much concern. 



Nidification is begun about the I2th of May, 

 but, occasionally, as- late as the 2Oth of the same 

 month. This labor is performed by both birds. 

 For this purpose, a forked branch is ordinarily 

 chosen, to which a beautiful pensile nest is attached. 

 A delicate framework, somewhat purse-shaped, is 

 first fastened to the bifurcating twig, by means of 

 spiders' webs, long strips of the inner bark of 

 Quercus alba, tangled masses of Hypnum squar- 

 rosum, floss of Bombycidcz, silk of plants, and the 

 untwisted silk of the capsules of spiders. This 

 structure is composed mainly of strips of bark, 

 fragments of decayed Pinus, and bits of Hypnum, 

 which are held in sitit by spiders' webs, the webs 

 of several species of Epeira being utilized. At 

 this stage there is little resemblance to the perfect 

 structure, being a long and narrow fabric. In 

 order to give symmetry and form thereto, the 

 birds now construct an inner nest of fragments of 

 paper, parchment-like capsules of spiders, bits of 

 papery material from nests of Vespa maculata, 

 spiders' webs, inner bark of Quercus alba, which 

 are adjusted so as to strengthen the outer fabric. 

 It is now the duty of the female, by bodily evolu- 

 tions, to reduce the whole to some sort of sym- 

 metry. Narrow strips of the inner bark of Vitis 

 cordifolia, Quercus alba, and spiders' webs, 

 variously intermingled, constitute a cozy lining; 

 occasionally, a profusion of white and black horse- 



