BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
201 
selection of a suitable spot in which to deposit their nest. In the matter 
of position the male yields due deference to the judgment of his wife. 
She having decided upon the spot, which may be either a tussock of grass, 
the bare ground, or a pile of drift-weed, both birds set assiduously to work 
to construct their nest. This is merely a pile of weeds or grass, arranged 
very campactly, but with little display of taste or design, and hollowed 
out to the depth of an inch and a half by the bodily evolutions of the 
builders. Occasionally, a ground-floor of coarse grasses is laid, and upon 
this is reared a superstructure of yellowish grasses, which reminds one of 
the home which the Bobolink is accustomed to build. A few hours of 
labor at least ai-e all that are necessary to construct one of these domiciles. 
Wilson mentions a nest that was placed in the bottom of a tuft of grass, 
and rendered almost inaccessible by the boggy character of the locality. 
It was composed entirely of old wet grass and rushes. A north-east storm 
visiting the spot, and an extraordinary rise of tide following, the eggs 
were floated out, and lay stranded upon the drift-weed. The female being 
so strongly attached to her home, still lingered near, and permitted herself 
to be taken by the hand, without showing so much as the least timidity, 
much less any exhibition of indignation or disgust. 
The number of eggs laid ranges from six to ten. These are deposited 
in daily instalments of one, the first being usually extruded on the third 
day subsequent to the completion of the nest. The female takes to the 
nest almost immediately after the last egg is laid, and continues for a term 
of fifteen days, when, through her constant, persevering efforts, a little 
family of children, dressed in suits of blackish down, come forth to glad- 
den the hearts of both parents. The male seems to take no direct part in 
the incubating process, not even so much as to see that his faithful wife 
is not in want of food. The care of the young devolves also upon her, 
and when they are endangered, she manifests the most intense solicitude, 
and seeks by all the devices known to her nature, to lead them into places 
of safety. Like many smaller, hut more courageous species, she is not 
known to wage a warfare in their defence, but endeavors by strategy, and 
