The Building of the Nest 87 



nook to eat my lunch, and being almost 

 attacked by a pair of black-and-white tree- 

 creeping warblers. Their aftions were plainly 

 a protest against my staying where I was, 

 and on looking about, I found that I had 

 almost sat upon their nest, which was then 

 just completed, but contained no eggs. I 

 visited the spot the next day and found a 

 single egg ; but my coming was a mistake, 

 for the birds now believed I had sinister de- 

 signs, and abandoned their new-made home. 

 The method of building, of course, varies 

 as much as the patterns of nests. Even 

 when the same materials are used, they are 

 differently treated, and a nest of sticks only 

 may in one case be merely thrown together, 

 as it were, while in another they are so care- 

 fully interlaced that the structure is a basket, 

 and holds together if held by the rim only. 

 Another, the same in general appearance, 

 would immediately fall to pieces if similarly 

 treated. A reason for this is discoverable in 

 some cases, but not in all. If we examine a 

 great many nests, the rule will hold good, I 

 think, that where they are very loosely put to- 

 gether, the locality is such that no natural dis- 

 turbing causes, as high winds, are likely to 



