274 
NESTS AND EGGS OE 
reach of the keenest vigilance. If discovered in such a place, it is more 
the I’esult of chance than good management, and not through any fault of 
the birds. We have found it often within a forked twig of the common 
laurel, more frequently in brier-hushes, and not uncommonly in a young 
oak, where scores of them are growing thickly together. 
The nest is from three to four days in building, through the steady, 
persevering efforts of the architects. In texture it is rather loose, and is 
made almost exclusively of strips of bark, dry leaves and stems of grasses. 
In some instances the ribbons of bark are from one-half to three-fourths 
of an inch in width, and nearly nine inches in length. Such being the 
exterior fabric, the inner is composed of a thick lining of roots, rather 
compactly interwoven, and gradually diminishing in size towards the 
centre. There is a difference in the composing substances observable in 
nests from the most diverse localities. Some are built of leaves on the 
outside, loosely aggregated and held together by the small and nearly verti- 
cal branches between which they are placed. Within, there is a profusion 
of grape-vine bark, small sticks, stems of grasses, and a lining of beech- 
leaves. In external diameter the nest varies from four and a half to five 
inches, and has a height of about two and a half inches. The cavity is 
about three inches wide, and the depth one and three-fourths. 
Ovij)osition rapidly succeeds nest-building, and proceeds at the rate 
of one egg per day. This is followed by incubation, which continues for 
a period of eleven days, the female performing the whole of the labor. 
The male seldom forsakes her, save to procure food. He is the most 
faithful and jealous- of husbands, carefully providing her with nourishment, 
and guarding her from harm. The approach of an enemy is heralded by 
loud and noisy chatterings between fear and anger, and even frequent 
attempts are made at repulsion. He is, however, in the height of his 
glory when by her side, and seeks by many pleasing little ways to relieve 
the fatigue and monotony of her task. His song at this time is more 
loud and incessant than ever. Braving concealment, he mounts into the 
air almost perpendicularly to the height of thirty or forty feet, with his 
