THE BIRD STUDY BOOK 



sure to see one before long with grass, twigs, rootlets, 

 or something of the kind in its bill. Now watch 

 closely, for you are in a fair way to discover a nest. 

 The bird may not go directly to the spot. If it 

 suspects it is being watched it may hop from twig to 

 twig and from bush to bush for many minutes before 

 revealing its secret, and if it becomes very apprehen- 

 sive it may even drop its burden and begin a search 

 for insects with the air of one who had never even 

 dreamed of building a nest. Even when unsus- 

 picious it will not always go directly to the nest. 

 From an outhouse I once watched a Blue Jay, with a 

 twig, change its perch more than thirty times before 

 going to the fork where its nest was being built. 



Sometimes a bird may be induced to reveal its 

 secret by placing in its sight tempting nesting mate- 

 rial. By this means Mrs. Pearson last summer found 

 a Redstart's nest. Discovering a female industriously 

 hopping about near the camp, and suspecting what 

 it was seeking, she dropped some ravellings of a 

 white cotton string from the veranda railing, letting 



[22] 



