BIRDS THAT PREY AND SOME THAT DO NOT 503 



.1 have seen thousands of yellow warblers and 

 watched them for hours at a time, but the first 

 double nest I found is the incident I always re- 

 member in connection with these birds. 



TWO-STORY BIRDS' NESTS. 



While the expanding leaves of tree and shrub 

 retain the tender tints of pink, and the broad lily 

 pads commence to mosaic the surface of the ponds 

 with green, in perfect harmony with the bursting 

 bud and opening flower comes the summer yellow- 

 bird, and from hedge and bush may be heard his 

 song, as simple and pleasing as the tasteful but 

 modest plumage that covers his little person. Al- 

 most immediately after the first appearance of 

 these industrious little birds they commence their 

 preparations for housekeeping. The male bird 

 flies busily about selecting such material as feathers, 

 plants, fibers, the furze from ferns, the catkins 

 from willows, and other similar objects, all of 

 which he brings to his mate, who arranges and 

 fashions their delicate nest. So quickly and deftly 

 do this little couple labor that they build the greater 

 part of their house in a single day. 



There is often a third party interested in the 

 construction of this nest, a homeless, irresponsible, 

 immoral, 



BIRD OF MANY HUSBANDS, 

 who has a sort of tramp's interest in the housekeep- 



