:\-2'2 LIFE-HISTORIES OF BIRDS 



a tangled border. The advantages which these places 

 bestow both for comfort and security, indicate considerable 

 forethought and sagacity upon the part of the birds. The 

 nest is ordinarily placed in a natural depression of the soil 

 of little depth. It is composed entirely of grasses which arc- 

 found in the immediate neighborhood, and is either screened 

 from view bv superincumbent grasses, or by the natural 

 overarching covering which Nature herself has provided. 

 Often there is a covered archway, either natural or artificial, 

 tullv ten feet in length, leading to the almost spherical nest. 

 The diameter of the nest is generally six inches. Where- 

 several birds deposit in the same nest, the inside cavitv is 

 more than twice the above dimension. Before this part of 

 the country was so thicklv populated, we are informed by 

 Mr. John Strouse of Chestnut Hill, Penn., that cultivated 

 fields in close proximity to farm-houses were not unusual 

 nesting-places. The nests were deposited in rather dee}) 

 depressions in the soil, and were composed of the dried 

 culms and leaves of Phleumpratense, rather intricately ar- 

 ranged ; and were heaved up into the form of an arch, with 

 a sufficient opening near the ground as a mode of ingress 

 and egress. The considerable annoyances to which the 

 birds were yearly subjected, doubtless, led to the abandon- 

 ment of such places. Meadow-lands, when mowed, are 

 soon vacated. But the same when allowed to remain un- 

 touched for years, are rather to be preferred to all others. 

 Nidification commences sometimes as early as the beginning 

 of April when the weather is favorable, but, ordinarily, not 

 before the middle of the month, and sometimes as late as 

 the first week of May. The nest is generally constructed 

 : >v the female, except where there are several females, when 

 it is the result of their conjoined labors. The male does 

 not assist in its building, but is cither abroad in quest of 

 ! "<md. or else is perched upon a small bush close-by, or in a 

 clump of grasses, earnestly watching the progress of the 

 work, and cheering the builders with his characteristic note. 



