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AMERICAN FORESTRY 



part laid by hole-nesting species of birds like the owls 

 and woodpeckers, and since the eggs are well hidden in 

 their dark cavities it has not been necessary for them to 

 develop protective coloration. The bright greenish blue 

 eggs of most of the thrushes, for example, must be hidden 

 in nests which are concealed in dense vegetation and the 

 speckled eggs of the ground nesting sparrows depend for 

 their safety upon the good hiding of the grass-woven 

 in -t which contains them. 



As one proceeds with the study of birds' eggs he will 

 observe that each family of birds lays eggs of a certain 

 type though some exceptions like the white eggs of the 



public sentiment protects the birds' home far better than 

 all the fines imposed by law. 



There is still another way, however, by which to en- 

 joy the discovery of a bird's nest, a way more permanent 



Photograph by A. A. Allen. 



THE NEST OF THE DAINTY HUMMING BIRD 



The eggs of this most exquisite of our little feathered friends are no 

 larger than beans. 



indigo bunting do occur and have yet to be explained. 

 Thus the ducks lay plain colored eggs only slightly tinted 

 with brownish, or greenish, or bluish. The shorebirds 

 on account of building no nests, or very shallow ones, 

 lay brownish spotted eggs which closely resemble their 

 environment, and each family of landbirds likewise has 

 its own type. The majority of the flycatchers, warblers, 

 and vireos, for example, lay eggs which are white or 

 whitish in ground color, the main differences being in the 

 color and arrangement of their dots and speckles. 



It is not surprising that these delicately fashioned 

 wonders of nature should have lured thousands into the 

 sport of egg collecting. But as we have gained a greater 

 appreciation of the beauty and value of birds we have 

 grown to consider egg collecting, except for scientific 

 purposes, little better than wanton plunder, and today 



Photograph by A. A. Allen. 



A BUSY MOTHER GALINULE 



The Florida galinule lays a goodly clutch of eggs of from eight to 

 thirteen, because both eggs and young are subject to many dangers. 

 Here the mother is seen turning her eggs. 



and instructive than a mere collection of eggs. Let the 

 bird student take his camera into the field and secure a 

 photograph of the eggs in their nest, their own proper 

 setting. A well taken photograph will show not only 

 the eggs, but the materials and position of the nest, which 

 are as necessary to a correct understanding of a bird as 

 are the eggs themselves. 



ARIZONA PINE 



In saintly service and seraphic praise 

 Before the face of God thy years are spent, 

 Thou priestly pine tree. Rich as sacrament 

 Thy shadows are unto the weary ways 

 Of man and bird and beast : the deep-toned lays 

 Of ocean from thy leafy strings unbent, 

 Beat to the fingers of the wind, and scent 

 Of prayerful incense round thy vesture plays. 

 Thou, royal pontiff of the wooded hills, 

 Outspread'st thy hands in benediction sweet 

 O'er all the tribes of restless woodland folk; 

 Thou shriVst the squirrel, and the robin thrills 

 Thy leaves with hymns : all sylvan orphans fleet 

 For covert to thy sanctuaried cloak. 



M. J. Riordan. 



