20 



HOME STUDIES IN NATURE. 



they cheered us with their song long after all the other 

 vocalists were silent. 



Many other birds used the moss more or less in the 

 construction of their nests. The robin used it largely, 

 one, especially, finding it such excellent material, and 

 so handy too, was not content until she festooned her 

 nest all around. It was built in the forks of an oak, and 

 the long sprays of moss were left swaying in the wind. 

 It was arranged so artistically that I have been asked if 

 I did not drape the nest myself. The catbird, bluebird, 



^IM.^3Wc 



HOUSK-SPAHROW. 



and kingbird all used it, and even the little house-spar- 

 row (Spizella socialis) cunningly wove it into the foun- 

 dation of its dwelling. 



But there were some conservatives among the birds 

 who would not be tempted by this new-fangled stuff to 



