36 STORIES OF BIRDS AND BEASTS 



but during the migrations great flocks are often made 

 up of smaller flocks of various kinds of birds. During 

 the nesting season it is quite different ; the majority 

 of birds prefer a quiet home life, each pair being inde- 

 pendent of any others. Certain flocks, however, keep 

 together, and all build their nests in a particular swamp 

 or wood, and sometimes, it is said, male birds build nests 

 to sleep in while the females are sitting. The Red- 

 wings nest in colonies ; so do the Herons, who eat frogs 

 and nest near water, and the little brown-cloaked Bank 

 Swallows, who live in holes that they dig for themselves 

 in high banks." 



There were some twenty pairs of birds in this Red- 

 wing colony, who seemed to be much frightened by the 

 approach of visitors. 



"Here is a nest in this alder bush," said the Doctor; 

 " step carefully on the grass hummocks, and look at it 

 for a moment, Nat. See how neatly it is made of the 

 dried leaves of flags and grasses, woven in and out 

 between three upright stalks." 



" Isn't it pretty ? " said Nat ; " so even and deep like 

 a cup, and not at all ragged and mussy like a Robin's 

 nest. There are a great many different kinds of nests, 

 aren't there, uncle ? " 



" Yes, the nests of birds are almost as different as 

 their songs and other habits, and the higher the order 

 the brood belongs to the better built is the nest. The 

 lower orders often only make a hollow in the ground 

 or grass, but do not collect material and build in the 

 true sense. None such can be called architects." 



" What is an architect ? " asked Nat, who thought it 

 was a pretty big name for any sort of a bird. 



