BIRD STUDY 



93 



swallows burrow into the bluffs, barn-swallows nest in 

 barns, and eaves-swallows under the ea\es of buildings. 

 Is there any attempt made bv the birds to conceal tlic nest ? 

 Is the nest in a safe place? Some nesls, like t^round- 

 sparrows' nests, are hard to locale because tliev are so 

 cunningly concealed in the grass. The oriole's nest is on a 

 high branch almost at the tip. Does any particular s])ccies 

 select a certain kind of tree? How about the oriole? 

 What materials are used in the construction of the nest ? 

 Robins and barn-swallows use mud with twigs and grass. 

 The red -winged 

 blackbird weaves a 

 pretty nest of the 

 leaves of sedges and 

 grasses in the 

 swamps. The hair- 

 bird is so-called from 

 the fact that it uses 

 horse-hair chiefly in 

 the making of its 

 nest. Note the dif- 

 ference in skill shown 

 by different species 

 of birds in choosing 

 a location, and in 

 the construction of 



1 u nig tuverrs runmvL'M lu sm iw atcac iinieni m r[iiiiis in lorcnrm 



the nest. Some birds a,„iii.u„i.i 



make hardly any nest at all, while others, like the oriole and 

 the barn-swallow, make beautiful and elaborate nests. ( >1j- 

 serve how the birds carry the building material, and how they 

 work it into the nest. Do both mates work? 



Fig. 12. Wing of Chicken. 



