56 METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS 



unusually large proportion of such material, — as 

 the Baltimore oriole and the vireos. The chipping 

 sparrow nearly always lines its nest with horse- 

 hair. In the nest of a kingbird, which was located 

 in the gutter of a house, the following materials 

 were found : strings, cotton, three kinds of cloth, 

 tape, knit goods, and linen. Bobins very com- 

 monly use large pieces of cloth. 



Material to he exposed. — Some ,of the ma- 

 terials which may be exposed on fences, bushes, 

 trees, etc., are the following : yarn, string, thread, 

 rags, horsehair, straw, tufts of cotton and wool, 

 small strips of cloth, pieces of grape-vine bark, 

 feathers. The yarn, strings, etc., should be of 

 sombre color, as these are preferred by the birds to 

 the brilliant colors, which would tend to make the 

 nest conspicuous ; and these pieces should be cut 

 into lengths of not over twelve inches, lest the 

 birds become entangled and hang themselves. 

 Tragedies of this kind do occur occasionally. If 

 any of the material is taken by the birds, it 

 furnishes opportunity for locating the nest, so 

 that such means may be taken as are necessary to 

 protect the occupants. 



Mud. — The robin, swallow, and phoebe use 

 mud in their nests, so that if in dry seasons pans 



