The Phoebe at Home 



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so that the resemblance of the nest to any of the 

 many patches of naturally growing moss about 

 it is nearly complete, and the architect's attempt 

 at concealment by this likeness is entirely suc- 

 cessful. It seems the more so when, as fre- 

 quently happens, the bird avoids the use of any 

 ledge, along which a mouse or weasel or snake 

 might possibly creep, upon eggs intent, and 

 plasters her dwelling, in the form of a heavy 

 bracket, right upon the face of the rock, where 

 it clings by the cohesive force of mud, mingled 

 with the moss and other fibrous ingredients. 



Thus far one might say that the phoebe showed 

 great intelligence, but it is worth while exam- 

 ining whether that is really a good word to use, 

 if by " intelligence " is meant conscious adapta- 

 tion of means to an end. It is probably safe to 

 say that this method is a departure from the 

 more ordinary tree-nesting habit practiced by 

 its relatives rather than that it alone represents 

 an original style from which all the rest have de- 

 parted. It secures more safety by greater inac- 

 cessibility, at the expense of using much mud 

 and also at the expense of far greater labor 

 *>$ 243 &* 



