A SUMMER WITH THE RED-TAILS 



31 



and thus avoided the inevitable consequences 

 of a near investigation of a poultry yard. 



SETTING UP HOUSEKEEPING 

 The Naturalist alone knew about the nest, 

 although thirteen small boys would have given 

 their biggest marble to find it. A very tall 

 basswood tree in the very middle of the little 

 wood was the tree selected. The nest was very 

 bulky, nearly three feet across, and composed 

 of coarse sticks. As it was built early in 

 March, before the trees had donned their 



The young birds kept their mouths open constantly, even when being photographed. 



