14 Twelve Months With 



The window shade was carefully drawn, so that 

 the birds would not be disconcerted. While robins 

 are usually not easily frightened out of their deter- 

 mination to build a nest in a particular place, and 

 often fight for their right to choose the location of 

 their domicile, we did not intend to run any risks 

 of the birds changing their plans. All day Satur- 

 day and Sunday they were busy, with their 

 weaving and their masonry. The female after 

 depositing a circle of mud on the inside of the nest, 

 would nestle into it and softly mold it into a cup 

 by turning her breast round and round against its 

 rim, and churning her wings up and down to 

 smooth its edges. I observed after one such process 

 that she flew into a neighbor's yard and bathed 

 herself in a basin of water on the lawn, washing 

 the mud from her breast. My young son, who was 

 greatly excited during these building operations, 

 and who was with difficulty restrained from fright- 

 ening and annoying the birds, asked if we could 

 finish the nest if the birds became frightened 

 and deserted it, and I know I answered him 

 truly when I said that "no one but a bird can 

 build a nest!" The birds are the oldest miners, 

 masons, carpenters and builders, weavers and 

 basket makers. 



"What nice hand, 

 With every implement and means of art, 

 And twenty years' apprenticeship to boot, 

 Could make us such another?" 



