564 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



FEATHERED BRANCH-BUILDERS {Continued). 



The Sedge Warbler.— Its Nest and Loquacity.— The Reed Warbler.— Use of 

 its peculiar Tail. — Localities haunted by the Bird. — Song of the Reed Warbler. 

 — Its deep and beautifully-balanced Nest. — Color of the Eggs. — The Indigo 

 Bird. — The Capocier.— Familiarity of the Bird. — Le Vaillant's Experiments. — 

 How the Nest is made. — Division of Labor. — Lover's Quarrels. — Structure of the 

 Nest. — Humming-birds again.— The Fiery Topaz.— Its nocturnal Habits. — Ap- 

 pearance of the Nest.— Its Shape, and the Materials of which it is made. — The 

 Hermit Humming-birds and their Nests. — The Ruby-throated Humming-bird. 

 —Variable Dimensions of the Nest. — Concealment. — Mr. Webber and his Dis- 

 coveries. — Variable Form and Positions of the Nest. — Materials of which it is 

 made. — Its deceptive Exterior.— Feeding of the Young.— The Vervain Hum- 

 ming-bird. — How the Nest assumes its Shape. — The Red-backed Shrike.— Use 

 of the Shrike in Falconry.— Their singular Mode of Feeding. — Impaled Prey.— 

 Conspicuous Character of the Nest. — Popular Ideas concerning the Red-backed 

 Shrike. — Structure of the Nest. — The Hedge Sparrow. — Its proper Title. — 

 Carelessness about its Nest. — Foes of the Hedge Sparrow. — Its Fecundity. 



Another bird that loves to build near water is the pretty lit- 

 tle Sedge Warbler (Salicaria phragmiiis). 



The nest of this bird is placed at a very low elevation, usually 

 within a foot or so from the ground, and raised upon rushes, reeds, 

 or other coarse herbage, which is found abundantly in such places. 

 There is more material in the nest than might be supposed from 

 the size of the bird and the slender stems by which it is support- 

 ed. Viewed from the exterior, it seems to have the ordinary cup- 

 shaped form which is so prevalent among small birds, but looked 

 at from above, the apparent depth is seen to be owing to the mass 

 of material, the hollow being singularly small and shallow. It is 

 a well-made nest, the general frame-work being formed of leaves 

 of grass-blades, while strength, warmth, and density are attained 

 by the quantity of wool and hair which are woven into the fabric. 



The Sedge Warbler is well known for its loquacity and its 

 ceaseless chatter. Should it be silent, a stone flung among the 

 reeds and sedges will always induce it to recommence its little 

 song. 



The remarkably beautiful nest which is here shown is built by 



