PHASES OF BIRD LIFE. I7I 



which says plainly to the thrush, " This is just the 

 site for a nest." In these crotches the wood-thrush 

 rears her dwelling, its walls being firmly supported all 

 around by the perpendicular branches. Do these 

 saplings grow for the special benefit of the wood- 

 thrush, or does the feathered artificer accommodate 

 herself to the circumstances, or is there mutual 

 adaptation between bird and bush? That is a 

 problem for the evolutionist. 



But the thrush often selects other sites for her 

 nursery. One day I found a nest deftly placed on 

 the point of intersection of two almost horizontal 

 limbs. From the lower one several small branches 

 grew up in an oblique direction, to give the walls of 

 the mud cottage firm support. The intersecting 

 boughs belonged to two different saplings. Another 

 nest that did not have very strong external support 

 was set down upon the short stub of a limb, which 

 ran up into the mud floor and held the structure 

 firmly in place. 



One day I stumbled upon a very tall thrush nest, 

 looking almost like a tower in its crotch. As the 

 nestlings had left, I lifted it from its place and tore 

 it apart, thinking the thrush might have fallen upon 

 the summer warbler's ruse to outwit the cow-bunting 

 by adding another story to her hut, thus leaving the 

 bunting's intruded egg in the cellar. But such was 

 not the case ; she had simply done the unorthodox 

 thing of using an old nest, still in good condition, 

 for a foundation upon which to rear the new structure. 

 Will the theologians of thrushdom bring charges of 



