Blunders in Bird-Nesting. 79 



possible discovery rather than relinquish a posi- 

 tion that pleases them. An uncle of mine told 

 me that he took an old crook-neck gourd in 

 which wrens had a nest, gradually moved it 

 nearer and nearer the kitchen door, and finally 

 hung it to one of the bare rafters overhead. 

 The wrens protested, of course, and yet were 

 not willing to be beaten if they could help it 

 They raised the first brood of that summer in 

 the kitchen, but found a new nesting-place for 

 their second brood. The following summer, so 

 Uncle Timothy said, the wrens came back and 

 inspected the gourd in the kitchen, but con- 

 cluded to take no risks. As my uncle was a 

 geologist, of course the story may be slightly 

 colored, but I have confirmation of the essen- 

 tial facts. 



But, as birds have other enemies than man, it 

 is surprising how much they leave to chance, 

 running risks which, from our point of view, 

 might easily be avoided. For several days I 

 watched a pair of robins that chose as a nest- 

 ing-site the swaying twigs of a tall pine-tree. 

 Day after day I watched and wondered, and 

 with every puff of wind expected to see the 



