ANOTHER MAY MORNING. 73 



have had to work with, well may we be filled with 

 admiration and astonishment. 



Take the nest of the goldfinch, and then see what the 

 little creature has at her command. Only a tiny awl- 

 like bill, which must answer for knife or scissors to cut 

 and clip her building material ; the claws on two tiny 

 feet, for though we do not know how she uses them, a 

 great deal of the work must fall to their share ; a soft 

 rounded breast with which to mould and shape and 

 smooth the cup-like structure till it acquires the exact 

 circumference and size needed for the accommodation • 

 of five little eggs, and later on five little birds that are 

 to be fed and cared for until such time as the parents 

 judge they may be safely left to shift for themselves. 



This nest is as perfect as if the most skilful hands 

 and the most delicate fingers had put the finishing 

 touches to it and the most critical artistic eyes had 

 overlooked the building — if, indeed, any human skill 

 could construct it, even with all the appliances of 

 modern knowledge. 



In most instances it is the female bird who takes upon 

 herself the labor of building the nest. This is a labor 

 of love, and the bird puts forth all the energies of her 

 nature and all the skill with which she' is inspired, to 

 accomplish her work well. 



Having the stereotyped pattern ready, she seeks a 

 suitable place and lays the foundation as any builder 

 would do. She gathers material bit by bit, the strongest 



