44 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW |1.5:2— Feb., 1919 



will vary with the state of preservation in which it is found, and 

 the key will prove practicable only for such nests as are fairly well 

 preserved. 



The nests of such birds as the cardinal and others that breed only 

 rarely or locally in New York State, have been omitted from the 

 key in most cases. Others that are uncommon have been marked 

 with an asterisk. Ninety per cent of the nests found will belong 

 to one of the following nine birds that are common throughout 

 the State and that build the most conspicuous nests: catbird, 

 chipping sparrow, goldfinch, oriole, redstart, robin, song sparrow, 

 vireo, and yellow warbler. 



<k«<p«4a4-> 



KEY TO THE NESTS OF THE COMMON SUMMER RESIDENT BIRDS OF 

 NEW YORK STATE 



A. On the ground or in tussocks of grass I 



AA. In the ground (in burrows) II 



AAA. Above ground, in bushes or trees, on cliffs, or about 

 buildings 



B. Hanging or semipensile nests Ill 



BB. Not hanging 



C. In holes in trees or in bird boxes IV 



CC. Not in holes 



D. Containing sticks or large twigs V 



DD. With no sticks 



E. Felted nests of cottony materials VI 



EE. Not felted 



F. Containing an inner layer of mud .. VII 

 FF. With no mud 



G. Covered with lichens VIII 



GG. With no lichens 



H. Mostly of bark, fibers, and 

 rootlets, with or without 



horsehair lining IX 



HH. Mostly of grasses, rootlets, 

 straws, and leaves, usually 

 with horsehair in the lining 



J. Not spherical X 



JJ. Spherical nests XI 



