214 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



are sometimes on the ground, do not seem to suffer from 

 sudden showers. Is it because they have a bulky, looso 

 understratum of coarse sticks, which permit the water 

 to flow by without disturbing the fine lining and the 

 eggs or young ? 



Is it not probable that birds take the subject of 

 storms into consideration in constructing and locating 

 their nests? 



It was the same with a white-eyed greenlet's nest, 

 and tiie several second-brood nests of thrushes, catbirds 

 and fly-catchers, that I visited. Not one was materially 

 injured ; yet several contained young birds. The trees 

 wiierein they were placed were violently disturbed, and 

 it was evident the branches had been lashed in such a 

 way as to dislodge both leaves and small twigs ; yet no 

 nest was displaced. Would not, in such a case, a bird be 

 able to retain her place, and support the eggs or young, 

 so as to prevent injury thereto? The orioles do this, I 

 know, and only by such a means could the eggs be pro- 

 tected, during very high winds. Of course, with nests 

 as pendent as those of the Baltimore oriole, the mo- 

 tion and consequent danger increase with the length 

 of the nest. 



July 9. — I had a talk with Miles Overfield to-day, and 

 have since been on an exploring expedition. To think 

 that for all these years there has been a mineral spring 

 in the mucky meadow, and I not know of it! The 

 truth is, no one can thoroughly exhaust the treasures, 

 even of a hundred acres. 



"Draw a line," said Miles, "from the tall pin-oak in 



