BIRDS 



231 



it can determine friend or foe at long range. The nest- 

 ing habits are simple, the nests being roughly made of 

 any sort of twigs and stems mixed with hair and feathers 

 and placed in cornices or trees. A maple-tree in a small 



Fig. 188. — Cardinal grosbeak, or redbird (CardmaHs cardinalis). (One- 

 half natural size; from life.) 



Missouri town contained at one time thirty-seven of these 

 nests. 



The beginning' study of birds. — In Chapter III are 

 given directions for the observation of the nesting habits 

 of birds. Such observations constitute probably the best 



