ORCHARD SECRETS 



of silent fear. The male as he sat on a branch near 

 the nest stood up straight and stiff, still as if frozen, 

 with crest flattened and plumage closely furled. The 

 head of the female, visible above the rim of the nest, 

 showed the same alarm. The silent expression of 

 both birds was as eloquent as the most demonstra- 

 tive outcry. The vireos gave themselves away by 

 their plaintive and agitated cries, the female show- 

 ing much the more concern. A close scrutiny of the 

 outer end of the lower branches of the trees soon 

 revealed the little gray, closely woven basket sus- 

 pended between two twigs, seven or eight feet from 

 the ground, A daintier and prettier nest than the 

 vireo's cannot be found. We feel sure that there 

 is the nest of the wood pewee in the old orchard 

 yet to be discovered. This is a nest of a different 

 order — a cup and not a basket, but it is so com- 

 pactly and smoothly modeled, and so harmonizes 

 with the branch upon which it is placed, by bits of 

 lichen with which it is covered, that it delights 

 the eye equally with that of the vireo, and is still 

 harder to find. The tribe of vireos have doubtless 

 learned from long experience that the safest places 

 to build their nests are where we invariably find 

 them, near the end of long, low branches of trees and 

 bushes. The crows and jays are almost sure to over- 

 look them here, and the cowbird in looking for a 

 nest in which to drop stealthily her egg is equally 

 baffled. The goldfinch is also a superior bird archi- 



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