BIRDS'-NESTS. 129 



tion to the stream of vehicles that was constantly pass- 

 ing. It was a wonder to me when the birds could 

 have built it, for they are much shyer when building 

 than at other times. No doubt they worked mostly 

 in the morning, having the early hours all to them- 

 selves. 



Another pair of blue grossbeaks built in a grave- 

 yard within the city limits. The nest was placed in 

 a low bush, and the male continued to sing at inter- 

 vals till the young were ready to fly. The song of 

 this bird is a rapid, intricate warble, like that of the 

 indigo-bird, though stronger and louder. Indeed, 

 these two birds so much resemble each other in color, 

 form, manner, voice, and general habits that, were it 

 not for the difference in size, the grossbeak being 

 nearly as large again as the indigo-bird, it would 

 be a hard matter to tell them apart. The females of 

 both species are clad in the same reddish-brown suits. 

 So are the young the first season. 



Of course in the deep, primitive woods also are 

 nests ; but how rarely we find them ! The simple art 

 of the bird consists in choosing common, neutral-tinted 

 material, as moss, dry leaves, twigs, and various odds 

 and ends, and placing the structure on a convenient 

 branch, where it blends in color with its surround- 

 ings ; but how consummate is this art, and how skill- 

 fully is the nest concealed ! We occasionally light 

 upon it, but who, unaided by the movements of the 

 bird, could find it out ? During the present season I 

 went to the woods nearly every day for a fortnight. 



