THE CITY OF THE BIRDS. 9 1 



It would be indeed a most interesting ornitho- 

 logical history that could give the year when the 

 "republican" swallow iixed her nest under the 

 eaves, or could treat of the circumstances and 

 conditions in her life that led her to abandon her 

 native cliff for a barn. There was a day when a 

 specially observing and intelligent female, as she 

 was skimming over the field of some early set- 

 tler, "canted her bullet head" up to the shelter- 

 ing eaves and thought, " Ah ! there is a good 

 place for a nest. I will prospect at once." And 

 what a curious book on bird lore it would be that 

 could discourse on the law that compelled the war- 

 bling vireo to hang her purse-like home high on 

 the elm, or told her sister, the white-eye, to fix 

 hers to the lowest brier ! What prompted the 

 golden-crown thrushes to form such perfect roofs 

 over their houses .'' Minot says they do not inva- 

 riably build so. But those individuals with anti- 

 quated notions, that model after their ancient 

 ancestors, only neglect to form the necessary 

 covering, for it is pretty safe to conclude that 

 this pine needle and leaf tiling is comparatively 

 a modern style of architecture among the major- 

 ity of these wise birds. Had they not learned 

 by sad experience during the past ages that 

 a roof protected them much better than an 

 open nest from the weather and their numerous 

 enemies .' 



