8o . PROCEEDINGS MANCHESTER INSTITUTE 



Yet quite different in shape and combination is the nest of its 

 cousin, the yellow warbler, or summer j^ellow-bird, commonly 

 called. This is made of plant down inside and out, with strong 

 hair and fine grass to fasten it firmly into the crotch of the blue- 

 berry^ bush. From its location, near the swamp, we saw the 

 bird dail}', darting in and out. William Hamilton Gibson re- 

 lates an interesting account of the manner in which this tiny lit- 

 tle warbler, outwitted a cow bunting, who persistently added un- 

 lawful egg contributions to her nest. A specimen of nest which 

 he found afforded quite a contrast to the usual size, its depth 

 being about five inches. Examination proved the summit to 

 be a distinct division, beneath which was a perfect nest con- 

 taining an egg — a token of the cow-bird ; then, the lower sec- 

 tion seeming more bulky than the normal nest, further investi- 

 gation revealed a third division, with another spotted egg with- 

 in. "A three-storied nest ! A nest full of stories, certainh' !" 



On warm days when robins dot the green southern slopes. of 

 pastures and fields, the phoebe carols its decisive, persuasive 

 note. The proximity of this sober-colored bird to a corn-crib 

 led us to search for bird-treasures beneath its rafters, where, 

 unexposed to rigorous storms, reposed three mossy phcebe's 

 nests, lined with mud, indicating as many seasons in this 

 favored location. A robin's nest also kept them company. A 

 recent Institute acquisition is quite as wonderful as anj^ told of 

 by Burroughs or others. A phcebe's nest built on a clothes- 

 line, its moss}' green cup so fulfilling the laws of ph3'sics that 

 it must have balanced in a vertical position when the bird 

 alighted on its rim; at other times, when she was away, it 

 tipped slightly. If the bird had not made this wise provision, 

 her eggs would have been easily spilled. 



Accompanying this gift was the moss-covered cup of the 

 humming-bird, capable of holding only two diminutive birds of 

 bumble-bee size. It is said that, realizing it was being watched, 

 the parent bird deserted the nearly completed nest. 



This 3'ear, when it was time for the barn swallows to return 

 to one of their favorite nesting places, the spot was visited, but 

 not a vestige of last 3'ear' s nests remained. Were the3' dis- 



