NATURAL HISTORY. 189 



the chaffinch ; for it takes pains to show 

 nothing but the wool, and covers up all the 

 other materials which it uses." 



" Uncle Philip, do these birds all use the 

 same things to make their nests ?" 



" All use wool, boys ; but the truth is, that 

 birds will commonly take for their nests that 

 article which they can get most easily, if it will 

 suit. A gentleman, named Bolton, tried this 

 with some goldfinches. He saw a pair of 

 these birds beginning to build in his garden ; 

 they had laid the foundation of their nest with 

 moss, and grass, and such things, as they 

 commonly use : he scattered some wool about 

 in different parts of the garden ; the birds took 

 the wool : afterward he scattered cotton ; 

 they took the cotton : on the next day he gave 

 them some very fine down ; they took that, 

 and finished the nest with it, and a very hand- 

 some nest it was." 



" How long were they in making it, Uncle 

 Philip?" 



" Three days. The canary-bird, boys, 

 which you sometimes see in cages, when free, 

 builds a nest of the same kind. But the most 

 curious felt-makers among the birds, are in 



