BIRDS IN A CITY 169 



plant-down tied together with cobwebs and stuc- 

 coed with lichens, like those which are growing all 

 about upon the tree. If we do not watch the fe- 

 male when she settles to her young or eggs we 

 may search in vain for this tiniest of homes, so 

 closely does it resemble an ordinary knot on a 

 branch. 



The flycatchers are well represented in the Park, 

 there being no fewer than five species; the least 

 flycatcher, wood pewee, phosbe, crested flycatcher, 

 and kingbird. The first two prefer the woods, the 

 phcebe generally selects a mossy rock or a bridge 

 beam, the fourth nests in a hollow tree and often 

 decorates its home with a snake-skin. The king- 

 bird builds an untidy nest in an apple tree. Our 

 American crow is, of course, a member of this 

 little community of birds, and that in spite of 

 persecution, for in the spring one or two are apt 

 to contract a taste for young ducklings and hence 

 have to be put out of the way. The fish crow, a 

 smaller cousin of the big black fellow, also nests 

 here, easily known by his shriller, higher caw. A 

 single pair of blue jays nest in the Park, but the 

 English starling occupies every box which is put 

 up and bids fair to be as great or a greater nui- 

 sance than the sparrow. It is a handsome bird and 

 a fine whistler, but when we remember how this 

 foreigner is slowly but surely elbowing our native 

 birds out of their rightful haunts, we find our- 

 selves losing sight of its beauties. The cowbird, 



