The Bluebird 



The males precede the females in their migration north. 

 Almost immediately after the arrival of the females, house 

 hunting is commenced. This means a search for a cavity or 

 hole of some kind. It may be a knot hole or a deserted wood- 

 pecker's nest, and generally these are sought for in an orchard, 

 the outer skirts of the forest or the stake of a worm fence 

 along a highway. At Somerleaze for many years a pair of 

 them have nested in a woodpecker's hole in a fence stake, 

 and here I have had a good opportunity to study them. It 

 was here that I first became convinced that the English 

 sparrows fight the bluebirds and destroy their eggs and nests. 

 One evening the bluebirds seemed much distressed and I 

 hunted for the cause of it and caught a cock sparrow in the 

 very act of destroying the nest and at the foot of the fence 

 stake were the perforated eggs that had been tossed out of it. 

 If not prevented by the English sparrows, the bluebirds will 

 take possession of boxes put up for them about our homes. 

 When I was about five years old my father moved from the 

 city to the farm, and one of the first things he did was to put 

 up a box on a pole in front of our cabin home. A pair of blue- 

 birds took possession of it, and year after year, they nested 

 there. They were the first wild birds that I became acquainted 

 with, and with Maurice Thompson, I can say : 



"From childhood I have nursed a faith 



In bluebirds' songs and winds of spring; 

 They tell me after frost and death 



There comes a time of blossoming; 

 And after snow and cutting sleet, 



The cold, stern mood of nature yields 

 To tender warmth, when bare pink feet 



Of children press her green fields." 



The nest of the bluebird is made of grass and rootlets. 

 As a rule, three to six blue eggs are laid in it. Occasionally 

 white eggs are laid, and when this is done the entire clutch 

 is of that color. Incubation is attended to by the female, and 

 while she is attending to it, the male is ever present and at- 

 tentive to her, and as Lowell says, 



"Shifting his load of song 

 From post to post along the cheerless fence." 



