190 
NESTS AND EGGS OE 
position where he can inspect the work as it progresses under the critical 
eye, and by the skilful manipulations of his steady, industrious and jDerse- 
vering housewife. While for these long, weary days she is thus occupied 
with the structure, her partner sweetens the ennui of her life by an agree- 
able ditty and words of endearment. As if to show his appreciation of her 
exertions, he now and then rewards her with one of his choicest captures. 
Dense woods with jdenty of underbrush are generally chosen when 
nesting. Occasionally, through some freak of the builders, the domicile is 
placed contiguous to human habitations. Almost any small tree or bush 
answers for its supj)ort. A crotch receives the fabric and renders it secure 
from violent storms of wind. U230n first examination it seems to be the 
counterpart of the home of the Summer Yellow-Bird, but this impression 
is soon abandoned when a comparison is instituted. A typical structure 
before us, which was built upon a forked branch of the wild plum, at a 
height of ten feet from the ground, is comjDOsed of the fibres of the wild 
flax, with a few spiders’ webs, on the outside, and is lined with a profusion 
of horse-hairs. In diameter it measures two and three-fourths inches, and 
three in height. The width of the cavity is two inches, and the depth 
one and five-eighths. The whole affair is beautifully hemispherical, and 
neatly and compactly woven. 
In the construction of the nest there is visible a marked uniformity 
in character, although the materials vary with the localities. Shreds of 
savin-bark, bits of wool, strips of bark, thistle-down, bits of paper, and 
other fragments are sometimes utilized in the periphery, while vegetable 
fibres, pine leaves, dry grasses and wool of plants are made to do good 
service in adding a warm and comfortable lining. From what we read it 
seems that the Redstart does not always build directly upon a branch, but 
is occasionally prone to make use of the nest of some other species as a 
foundation. A case is cited by Dr. Brewer where the Redstarts had 
placed their nest upon a Blue-eyed Warbler’s, which had either been de- 
serted, or from which the rightful owners had been expelled. The base 
of this fabric was composed of brownish wool plucked from fern leaves. 
