524 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



were no eggs in the nest when we arrived, 

 but by the 2Oth there were four eggs, and 

 on June 5th one egg was hatched. We knew some- 

 thing was happening because of the agitation of 

 Mr. Phoebe who up to this date spent most of his 

 time roosting on the other end of the eave-trough, 

 occasionally taking a bath in my tin wash-basin, 

 but now he sat on the edge of the nest and talked 

 in 



LOW, SWEET TONES TO HIS WIFE; 



when she would leave the nest he would continue 

 his low talk occasionally picking at the inside of 

 the nest. 



The nest is so located in the passage that some 

 one of our household is constantly passing and re- 

 passing under it almost brushing their heads against 

 the planks supporting the nest; but the birds for 

 more than a dozen years have nested over the 

 kitchen door and do not seem to mind us further 

 than to keep their keen eyes on us while we were 

 near their nest. In 1907 the flying squirrels took 

 possession of the phoebe birds' nest and the birds 

 moved to the other side of the house under a pro- 

 jection of the second story. 



For two weeks or more (August 25), the 



AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES 



have been frequenting a young orchard nearby 

 and often fly over our place. 



I was surprised to hear them singing this time 

 of year. 



