BIRDS 



"3 



The kingfisher and bank-swallow dig tunnels into the 

 sides of clayey or sandy bluffs, at the ends of which they 

 make their nests. 



A wonderful nest is that of the caves-swallow, which is 

 found under the caves of barns and houses. This is a flask 

 or cup shaped nest made of pellets of clay plastered together 

 and lined with feathers. 



The chimney-swift makes a pretty httle shelf of sticks 



Fig. ig. Nest of Humming-Bird. 



fBuilt of lichens. Simulating- a wart on the twig.) 



which it cements together with a sticky saliva and attaches 

 to the inside of unused chimneys. 



One of the daintiest nests is that of the humming-bird. 

 This is a tiny thing composed of moss and fibres plastered 

 over with lichens and lined with cotton. The nest is cemented 

 on top of a branch, and so cleverly imitates a knot that it 

 easily remains unnoticed. 



The Baltimore oriole's nest is beautiful in workmanship, 

 and is safely and airily suspended from the end of a drooping 

 elm branch, where neither snake, squirrel, nor small boy 



