5(> Bird Life Stories 



In the middle States he begins to construct his nest about 

 the latter end of March; in Massachusetts not before the first 

 week in April. The nest is situated under a bridge, in a cave, 

 the side of a well five or six feet down, under a shed, or in the 

 shelter of the low eaves of a cottage, and even in an empty 

 kitchen. Sometimes it rests on a beam, though it is frequently 

 attached to the side of a piece of roofing timber in the manner 

 of the Swallow. The outside is generally made of a mixture 

 of moss and clay, and formed with considerable solidity; 

 inside it is lined with flaxy fibers, films of bark, wool, horse- 

 hair, or only with dry grass. The nest is also sometimes made 

 merely of mud, root fibers and withered grass. The eggs are 

 about five, pure white without any spots. 



According to the touching relation of Wilson this humble 

 and inoffensive bird forms conjugal attachments, which 

 probably continue through life; for, like the faithful Bluebirds, 

 a pair continued for several years to frequent and build in a 

 romantic cave in the forest which made part of the estate of 

 the venerable naturalist, William Bartram. Here our unfortu- 

 nate birds had again taken up their welcome lease for the 

 summer, again chanted forth their simple lay of affection and 

 cheered my aged friend with the certain news of spring, when 

 unexpectedly a party of idle boys one fatal Saturday destroyed 

 with the gun the parents of this old and peaceful settlement, 

 and from that time forward no other pair was ever seen 

 around this once happy though now desolate spot. 



Their attachment to particular places is indeed remarkable. 

 About the middle of April, 1831, at the Fresh Pond Hotel in 

 this vicinity three different nests were begun in the public 

 boat-house, which may be here considered almost as a 

 thoroughfare. Only one nest, however, was completed, and' 

 we could not help admiring the courage and devotedness 



