AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



255 



and then proceeded to gather another mouth-ful of materials and carried 

 them to the same place. On making- an examination I found a partially 

 completed nest, and on calling there two days later, the nest was finished 

 — a beautiful, round cup-like structure. I stopped there on several 

 occasions afterwards but no eggs were deposited in it, although the 

 birds remained in the vicinity all season. It is my impression that this 

 nest was simply made as a "blind," while the true home was some- 

 where else. I am the more inclined to think so on account of the care- 

 less manner in which the bird exposed it in the first instance. 



Ill CHATS*™ 



aUSVSPUN 



FRIENDS 



Address communications for this department to 



Meg Merrythought, i 56 Waterville Street, 

 Waterbury, Ct. 



One of you have asked about the robin's second brood. Robins, 

 Phoebes, Swallows, Wrens, Sparrows and many other birds, raise 

 several families in one season, sometimes laying eggs even in sultry 

 August. The Robins usually use the same nest through the summer, 

 repairing it, if need be, with fresh mud, plaster and twig joists. I have 

 seen Sir Robin sitting upon the eggs in a most contented manner, while 

 Madam was busying herself about something else out of sight of the 

 home nest. 



Not long ago the Birdlover had a delightful talk with a bold young 

 chippy. Master chipping bird did the most of the talking however. 

 He alighted on the lower step of a veranda where the Birdlover was 

 sitting, and began to talk. I presume he remarked on the weather and 

 crops, then he hopped up another step, still looking up with a "chip, 

 chip, chip," soon the next step was mounted, and presently he ventured 

 up the last step close to the feet of the Birdlover, and looking up con- 

 fidingly into his face told a long story in chippy language. 



After fifteen or twenty minutes, he spread his wings and sailed away 

 to the crooked apple tree which contained the home nest, where he 



