82 PROCEEDINGS MA.NCHEvSTER INSTITUTE 



used, but one day, old "Silver Spot" was discovered brooding, 

 while his mate was away, These wise birds had apparently in 

 no wise changed the weather-beaten structure and so it is, some 

 birds appropriate last year's nests with or without repair, as the 

 swallow, wren, and others. Some build new each season, but 

 rear more than one brood, in the same nest during the season, 

 as does the phoebe. Some rebuild each j^ear. These include 

 the greatest number, Often birds make no nests of their own, 

 but use abandoned nests. Other birds build no nest, their eggs 

 being deposited on the rock or sand. 



Though denuded trees and bushes reveal many nesting sites, 

 yet the most satisf5dng nest specimen is taken as soon as it is 

 apparent that it is no longer needed. At this season untrodden 

 and inaccessible swamp}^ grounds may be searched for the nests 

 of the red-winged blackbird. It was in such a spot, where 

 thick-clustering water bushes, tall reeds and cat-tails grew, that 

 we found a grassy nest, inside of which were the remnants of an 

 egg-shell, plainly indicating the family. 



Burroughs has said that " Though generally regular in their 

 habits and instincts, yet the birds seem as whimsical and capri- 

 cious as superior beings. One is not safe, for instance, in mak- 

 ing any absolute assertions as to their place or mode of build- 

 ing. Ground builders often get up into a bush, and tree build- 

 ers sometimes get upon the ground, or into a tussock of grass. 

 The song sparrow, which is a ground-builder, has been known 

 to build in the knot-hole of a rail fence, and a chimney swallow 

 once got tired of soot, and fastened its nest on the rafter of a 

 hay barn." 



