BIRDS' NESTS AND EGGS 



The location of nests is largely determined by the nature 

 of the birds that build them and by the kinds of food which 

 those birds require for themselves and their young. The tamer 

 and more trustful species make their nests in the fields, the 

 orchards and about our dwellings, while the shy and fearful 

 ones seek the seclusion of the deep woods. 



Nests are found on the ground, among the shrubbery, in 

 the branches and trunks of trees, on rocks and housetops, in 

 cracks and crannies of cornices and steeples, under eaves and 

 bridges, on beams and ledges of buildings and at the end of 

 deep tunnels in the earth. In fact, there are few suitable places 

 where some bird's nest may not be found ; but every species of 

 bird has its preferred spot for nest-building and it generally 

 adheres closely to it. 



Those birds that find their food in and near the waters of 

 the ocean, the lakes and the streams do not go far from their 

 feeding places to build their nests. They seem to understand 

 that they must soon take their young to the water's edge and, 

 therefore, that the distance between the nest and the water 

 must not be too great for the little ones' strength; but the 

 birds that live upon seeds and insects often go far inland for 

 nesting without fear of starvation to themselves or their young. 



As we walk in the fields or the woods in May or June, we 

 are almost certain to startle some birds and cause them to rise 

 and fly from their nests. The desire to find and look into nests 

 is a natural impulse that few persons can resist. The disturb- 

 ance of these birds should end with the look at the marvelous 

 nests; and the beautiful eggs or the queer, cringing little creat- 

 ures in the nests. The nests and their contents should be as 



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