306 



FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



derfully wrought nest in the fork of some flexible 



branch. The outside is made of moss and the silky 

 down of thistle-seeds and dande- 

 lions, while the inside, artisti- 

 cally rounded, is lined with a 

 thick cushion of horse-hair, 

 wool, and feathers. 



"The chaffinch builds its nest 

 in nearly the same way, but, 

 more mistrustful than the gold- 

 finch, it covers the outside of its 

 abode with a layer of gray 

 lichen which, merging with the 

 lichen growing naturally on the 

 American Goldfinch branch, serves to baffle the 



scrutiny of the bird-nest hunter. 



"The window-swallow makes its nest in the cor- 

 ners of windows, ^$m&m^ms^ 



under the eaves of 



roofs, and in the 



shelter of cornices. 



Its building material 



is fine earth, chiefly 



that left in little piles 



after its digestion by 



earth-worms in fields 



and gardens. The 



swallow fetches it, a 



beakful at a time, 



moistens it with a little viscous saliva to make it 



stick together, and deposits it in courses, shaping 



Chaffinch 



