37$ * LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



almost steady application. Its nidification is so 

 familiar to all, that it may seem presumptuous upon 

 our part to say anything upon the subject. Nuttall 

 has so beautifully and faithfully delineated the 

 characteristic nest, that to attempt any improve- 

 ment thereon, would seem an utter waste of time ; 

 but there is a novelty hitherto unnoticed in a 

 couple of nests which we possess, that renders a 

 description not at all amiss. 



In the scores of nests which we have examined, 

 with the above exceptions not included, all were 

 begun as Nuttall affirms "by firmly fastening 

 natural strings of the flax, of the silkweed, or 

 swamp hollyhock, or stout, artificial threads, around 

 two or more forked twigs, corresponding to the 

 width and depth of the nest. With the same 

 materials, willow down or any accidental ravellings, 

 strings, thread, sewing silk, cotton, or wool, that 

 may be lying near the neighboring houses, or 

 around the grafts of trees they interweave and 

 fabricate a coarse cloth into the form intended, 

 toward the bottom of which the real nest, made 

 chiefly of lint, wiry grass, horse and cow hair, &c." 



To one of the nests alluded to, the above des- 

 cription satisfactorily applies, but it does appear 

 that the birds from some unaccountable cause, had 

 manifested but little judgment, so to speak, in the 

 selection of a suitable site, for we find them in 

 order to make the best of a bad bargain, erecting 

 a permanent roof to their domicile out of strings, 

 in place pf the agreeable canopy which leaves 



