BIRDS'-NESTS 



taking the lead, the male following her with an 

 anxious note and look. It was evident that the wife 

 was to have her choice this time; and, like one 

 who thoroughly knew her mind, she was proceed- 

 ing to take it. Finally the site was chosen upon a 

 high branch, extending over one low wing of the 

 house. Mutual congratulations and caresses fol- 

 lowed, when both birds flew away hi quest of build- 

 ing material. That most freely used is a sort of 

 cotton-bearing plant which grows in old wornout 

 fields. The nest is large for the size of the bird, 

 and very soft. It is in every respect a first-class 

 domicile. 



On another occasion, while walking or rather 

 sauntering in the woods (for I have discovered that 

 one cannot run and read the book of nature), my 

 attention was arrested by a dull hammering, evi- 

 dently but a few rods off. I said to myself, " Some 

 one is building a house." From what I had pre- 

 viously seen, I suspected the builder to be a red- 

 headed woodpecker in the top of a dead oak stub 

 near by. Moving cautiously in that direction, I 

 perceived a round hole, about the size of that made 

 by an inch-and-a-half auger, near the top of the 

 decayed trunk, and the white chips of the workman 

 strewing the ground beneath. When but a few 

 paces from the tree, my foot pressed upon a dry 

 twig, which gave forth a very slight snap. Instantly 

 the hammering ceased, and a scarlet head appeared 

 119 



