1 26 BiCKNELL 071 the Singing of Birds. [April 



building was actively resumed. As the female stood upon the 

 top of the nest, with head down and inside, I could not see the 

 manner of arranging the lining ; but as she kept walking around 

 upon the rim, I could, in imagination, see her plaiting and 

 weaving in and out the hair-like stems. It was very easy and 

 interesting, however, to see and note the actions of the male, as 

 he deftly worked the material into the framework, running the 

 longer fibrous thread-like strips through and then quickly spring- 

 ing upon the top and fastening them on the inside. Then he 

 would re-arrange the outside, stopping a moment to inspect the 

 work, and then oft' in search of more material, occasionally war- 

 bling a few notes on the way ; but he was silent at the nest, while 

 I remained so near. 



At the rate their work was progressing, I think the nest would 

 have been completed during the day. I do not know that it is 

 the usual custom for the female to confine her labor to the plain 

 and necessary work, and the male to the decorative and ornamen- 

 tal parts, but it was so in this case. It may be that the time of 

 laving was hear at hand, and that the female felt the pressing 

 necessity for the completion of the interior, for, in such cases, I 

 have seen nests of birds enlarged and completed by the males 

 while the females were sitting upon their treasures. 



A STUDY OF THE SINGING OF OUR BIRDS.* 



by eugene p. bicknell. 

 Consideration of Species. 



Turdus migratorius. Robin. 



As a general rule our summer song-birds come to us in the 

 spring in full voice ; but an exception is often made by the Robin. 

 As a few Robins may be with us all winter, it is not alwaj's easy 

 to tell just when the first spring birds come ; but the observations 

 of several years clearly show that, as a rule, first arrivals are 

 songless. But singing is rarely delayed after the migration has 



* Continued from p. 71. 



