CHAPTER XXVIII. 



FEATHERED BRANCH-BUILDEKS. 



The Rook and its nesting-place — Materials and BtTUctme of the nest — Some 

 habits of the Book— The Cbow — Difference between the nest of the Book and 

 the Cro'w — The Hebok and its mode of nidification — The Heronry at Walton 

 Hall — Bustic ideas respecting the Heron's nest — The Chaffinch — Locality 

 and structure of its beautiful nest — Mode of obtaining materials — The 

 GOLDFIKCH and its home — Distinction between the nests of the Goldfinch 

 and Chaffinch — The Bvi.i.FtliCH — Locality and form of its nest — Variability 

 of structure — The Blue-eyed Yellow WAKBLER-^Curious materials of its 

 nest— Its remarkable habits — The Bald-headed Eaole — Why so called — 

 Wilson and Audubon's account of its nest — The Golden Obiole and its 

 beautiful nest — Mode of catching the bird — The Red- winged Stablino, 

 its value and demerits — Its gregarious habits — Locality and stncture of 

 its nest — The Yellow-bbeasted Chat and its odd ways — Its courage and 

 affection for its nest and yonng — Structure of its nest — The Ringdove and its 

 curious nest — The Whitkthboat — Description of the locality and structure of 

 the nest — Reasons for its various popular names — The Mocking Bibd — ^Thc 

 Watebhen and its nesting — Its habit of covering the eggs. 



We pass now to the many birds which build their nests on 

 branches of trees or shrubs, and which may therefrom be termed 

 Aerial Builders. A vast proportion of the feathered tribes 

 select branches as a site for their habitation, so that only the 

 remarkable examples will be mentioned or figured. 



Febhafs the most conspicuous of all ordinary branch-nests 

 are those which are made by the Eooks and the Crows. 



Every one has seen the nests of the former of these two birds. 

 They are large, dark, and are placed upon the topmost boughs 

 of the tree, so that they can be seen at a considerable distance. 

 Their position is evidently intended as a safeguard against the 

 attacks of various enemies, among which the bird-nesting boy is 

 pre-eminently the most dangerous. Scarcely would the boughs 

 endure the weight of a cat or monkey, and so slender are they 

 in many cases, that the spectator wonders how they can support 



