96 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



these little birds build such large and complete globular 

 nests. Now these birds were not silent, nor yet did 

 they sing, while at work ; but uttered frequently short, 

 sharp, sibilant chirps and twitterings, such as I have 

 never heard at any other time. It was plainly their 

 conversation. 



Wilson's description does not agree with my experi- 

 ence in the study of these nests, in two particulars ; 

 and this suggests either a change of custom, as has 

 taken place with other birds, in nest-building; or that 

 the nest may vary in different localities, and has always 

 done so. First, in regard to the cover over the entrance. 

 I have found but one such projection, and that was by 

 no means suflBciently prominent to effectually shield 

 the interior from rain. During the past summer I ex- 

 amined a very large series of nests, but found nothing 

 that could be likened to Wilson's description ; not even 

 a single strand of rush projecting more at the top than 

 the bottom. As so much stress is laid upon this feat- 

 ure, by Wilson, I visited the marshes during a "driv- 

 ing " rain, to see if, in lieu of such projection, temporary 

 provision for protection against rain was now adopted, 

 but could discover nothing. A very few of the nests 

 were so placed as to face the rain, and were apparently 

 fated to be thoroughly wetted, but I could not find that 

 any were penetrated by the rain to any important ex- 

 tent. One of the old birds was, in every case, in each 

 nest examined, and in eleven of twenty -three nests 

 visited, the mate was sitting in the entrance. In every 

 instance, therefore, the eggs were wholly out of harm's 

 way ; for what little rain might enter the open en- 



