CONTENTS 



PAGE 



Preface v 



CHAPTER 



I. First Acquaintance with the Birds 3 

 Caution in Nest Hunting — Going Afield 

 — Notebooks — Reporting Blanks — Bird 

 Books— Movements of Birds— Artificial 

 Cover in Hiding — The Umbrella Blind 

 — Conclusion. 



II. The Life About THE Nest .... 21 

 Nest Hunting — Behaviour when Nest Is 

 Discovered — Lessons to Be Learned — 

 Character of Material Used — Nests in 

 Holes — Variety of Locations — Varia- 

 tion in Families' — Meagre Nests. 



III. Domestic Life OF THE Birds ... 42 

 Parental Care of Young — Sharing the 

 Labours — Length of Mated Life — A 

 Much-married Bluebird — The Faithful 

 Canada Geese — Unmated Birds — 

 Polygamy Among Birds — The Out- 

 cast. 



[ix] 



