THE CUCKOOS AND THE OUTWITTED COW-BIRD 51 



warbler to develop this clever resource to outwit 

 the cow-bird. It is certain, however, that the lit- 

 tle mother has got tired of being thus imposed 

 upon, and is the first of her kind on record which 

 has taken these peculiar measures for rising above 

 her besetting trouble. 



Who can tell what the future may develop in 

 the nests of other birds whose homes are similarly 

 invaded ? I doubt not that this crying cow-bird 

 and cuckoo evil comes up as a matter of consid- 

 eration in bird councils. The two -stoned nest 

 may yet become the fashion in featherdom, in 

 which case the cow -bird and European cuckoo 

 would be forced to build nests of their own or 

 perish. 



But have we fully examined this nest of our 

 yellow warbler? Even now the lower section 

 seems more bulky than the normal nest should 

 be. Can we not trace still another faint outline 

 of a transverse division in the fabric, about an 

 inch below the one already separated ? Yes ; it 

 parts easily with a little disentangling of the 

 fibres, and another spotted egg is seen within. A 

 three-storied nest! A nest full of stories cer- 

 tainly. I recently read of a specimen containing 

 four stones, upon the top of which downy pile the 

 little warbler sat like Patience on a monument, 



