BLUE OR METALLIC BLUE 497 



But if not so fine a singer, the Blue Grosbeak is a 

 much better nest-builder than any other member of his 

 family. And this work is well worth patient watching. 

 After much consulting together, the pair agree upon a 

 site, and the foundation of heavy grasses and weed stalks 

 are scratched into place. A pair that I watched, after 

 trying one crotch, deliberately selected another, and re- 

 moved the material to the new site. Nor could I find 

 out what influenced the choice, unless there was some- 

 thing in the shape that was not quite comfortable to the 

 little mother. Both male and female carried material, 

 and moulded it into form by turning about in it and 

 tucking the unruly ends in with their bills. At the end 

 of the fifth day the compact, rather deep affair, lined 

 with plant fibre and fine grasses, was ready for use' ; and 

 on the seventh day it contained one egg. An egg was 

 laid each day until there were four; then incubation 

 began. 



The Blue-headed Grosbeak is a model father. Day 

 after day found him on the nest. By some mysterious 

 signal he knew when Madam was ready to leave, and 

 never failed to appear just as she flew off", though my 

 dull ears caught no signal between them. Then, paus- 

 ing a moment on the edge of the nest, he would survey 

 the treasures with a comical air of wisdom. Having sat- 

 isfled himself that all was as it should be, he settled 

 down, rather awkwardly, but with less fuss than the 

 female ever could succeed in doing. 



After fourteen days of waiting, four wriggling, naked 

 nestlings filled the cradle and ate as surely no other 



32 



