190 Bird -Lore 



of birds. It seems rather confusing to think of the birds traveling to so many 

 different places to nest, especially when many of them seem to be going 

 straight away from places where they might find attractive nesting-sites, 

 but we cannot unravel this mystery. We simply know that many kinds of 

 birds nest in different places, building very different kinds of nests and taking 

 care of their eggs and young in different ways. 



Now, if the home of a bird is where it nests, what shall we call the nest 

 itself, for, at first thought, that would seem to be the home? The nest is only 

 a "cradle" for the young. The parent-birds spend more or less time on the 

 nest, according to the habit of the species, but the nest is not primarily a 

 place for them to rest in or a home where they may find shelter. Most male 

 birds visit the nest only to assist in its construction or to help feed the mother 

 and nestlings, going elsewhere to perch for the night or to pour forth their 

 song during the day. 



We need not expect to describe one bird's nest as a type of all birds' nests, 

 because there are almost as many kinds of these nests, or "cradles," as there 

 are different kinds of birds. Some seventy-five years ago, in a set of books 

 entitled "The Library of Entertaining Knowledge," the different kinds of 

 birds and their nests were described in the following interesting and ingenious 

 way, which may help us to get a clearer idea of the great variety in bird-archi- 

 tecture than we might otherwise obtain without much study. 



I. Mining Birds, or birds which make holes in banks, in sand, under stones, and 

 elsewhere. The Bank Swallow, Bee-eater, Stormy Petrel, Puffin, Penguin, Burrowing 

 Owl, Jackdaw, Rook, Kingfisher, Green Tody and Miner-lark are given as examples 

 of this group. (See Bird-Lore, May-June, 191 2, p. 184.) 



II. Ground-Builders, or birds which nest on the ground, as the Eider-duck, the 

 Peahen and English Redbreast. The Summer or Wood Duck is placed somewhat 

 doubtfully in this list. Can you tell the reason why? 



III. Mason-Birds, as, for example, the Cliff Swallow, the Chimney Swift, South 

 American Baker-bird, Flamingo, Barn Swallow, Crested Penguin, Robin and Song- 

 thrush. The Ring-necked Swallow and European Nuthatch are included with the 

 Mason-birds, because of their habit of barricading their nests. 



IV. Carpenter-Birds, such as the Toucan, Wryneck, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches 

 and Chickadees. 



V. Platform-Builders, of which the Ringdove, the once abundant Passenger Pigeon, 

 Bald Eagle, Osprey, Herons, Storks and Cranes are examples. 



VI. Basket-making Birds, among which are found the Blue Jay, Bullfinch, Mocking- 

 bird, Red-winged Blackbird, Missel-Thrush, Cedar Waxwing and Bottle-nest Sparrow. 



VII. Weaver-Birds, of which some of the most skilful nest-builders are the Weaver 

 Oriole of Senegal, the Hedge-Sparrow, Greenfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Indian Sparrow 

 and Prairie Warbler. 



VIII. Tailor-Birds, such as the Orchard Oriole, Bonana Starling and the East 

 Indian Tailor-bird. 



IX. Felt-making Birds. The Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Pinc-pinc, Yellow Warbler, 

 Hummingbirds and Capocier are placed here because they line their nests with downy 

 or felt-like material, according to the writer of this classification. 



