Song Birds and Water Fowl 



has no control, being no more able to govern 

 the matter than it can the growth of its beak. 

 There is as much difference to me, in the inter- 

 est inspired, between the nest and the egg of a 

 bird, as between its brain and its skull — using 

 the word ' brain ' to mean the seat of intel- 

 lect. Don't neglect the nests, then. In them, 

 more than anywhere else, lies the key to the 

 mind and thoughts of a bird — the spirit that 

 inhabits that beautiful frame, and bubbles out 

 of that golden mouth. Nests are beautiful, 

 too. What can surpass the delicacy of the 

 humming-bird's home, glued to the surface of 

 a mossy branch, or nestling in the warped 

 point of a pendent leaf; the vireo's silken 

 hammock; the oriole's gracefully swaying 

 purse; the blackbird's model basket in the 

 flags; the snug little caves of the marsh 

 wrens; the hermitage huts of the shy wag- 

 tails and ground warblers ; the stout fortresses 

 of the sociable swallows ! Moreover, there is 

 much that is highly interesting which remains 

 to be learned about nests, and which can only 

 be known by paying close attention to these 

 artistic masterpieces of animal art. Many points 

 remain to be cleared up. Variation shows in- 

 dividual opinion or taste among the builders as 



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