14 



Rohin. — The robin uses mud as a framework for its nest, 

 and as this makes the nest heavy it requires a good foundation 



and a roof over it to render 

 it weatherproof. Robins' nests 

 often are dislodged or blown 

 down in storms, and sometimes 

 the birds, warned perhaps by 

 experience, learn to place their 

 nests on some projection under 

 the eaves of a house porch or 

 summer house; on the end of a 



Fig. 18. — Robins' nest on log cabin. 



projecting log under the eaves 



of a log house; on a beam under 



the roof of a shed or railway 



station ; under a bridge ; under 



the overhanging sod on the 



edge of a bank; in a hollow 



trunk; in a barn cellar; or 



even in a bird house. Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright experimented 



years ago with shallow wooden trays about 6 inches square, 

 bracketing each one to a post, grape 

 arbor or building, always with a branch, 

 eaves, arbor or other screen or protection 

 overhead. The robins did not use them 

 the first year. The second year two were 

 used, and the last year five others. These 

 trays should be made so that they will 

 not hold water. A small grape basket 

 hung or nailed up under projecting eaves 

 or a shed roof may be used by robins, 

 swallows or phoebes, particularly if a little 



Fig. 2o.-Robin7nestor^he hay is placcd in it. A pair of Carolina 



Fig. 19. 



-The old cider mill. 



cider press. 



wrens at Fairhaven nested in such 



basket partly filled with dynamite hung under the ridgepole of a 

 barn. 



