302 CHAPTERS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY 



graph of this entire structure in situ, with the thrushlings in it 

 fast asleep. It represents a typical specimen of the nest of this 

 species, and the bird seems to have followed a certain plan of 

 building for many years. Upon carefully observing this plan, 

 and taking cognizance of the materials employed, I find it to 

 agree exactly with a description of the Wood Thrush's nest given 

 us by the observant Wilson, perhaps full ninety years ago. He 

 said: "Outwardly it is composed of withered beech leaves of 

 the preceding year, laid at bottom in considerable quantities, no 

 doubt to prevent damp and moisture from ascending through, 

 being generally built in low, wet situations; above there are lay- 

 ers of knotty stalks of withered grass, mixed with mud, and 

 smoothly plastered, above which is laid a slight lining of fine, 

 black, fibrous roots of plants." Surely it is a remarkable fact 

 that this species should always use in the basic structure of its 

 nest the " withered beech leaves of the preceding year," and not 

 occasionally select something else. Yet they never seem to, in 

 this latitude, at least. I suppose, where they breed in the far 

 south, and where, perhaps, beech trees do not grow, they are 

 obliged to choose otherwise, and it would be interesting to know 

 more about this. 



Notice in my photograph (Fig. 75) how beautifully the horizon- 

 tally expanded maple leaves growing above this nest shade its 

 tender inmates from the, perhaps, too warm sun's rays of early 

 summer. This canopy must likewise be grateful to the sitting 

 parent during the time she covers her eggs and performs her 

 incubatory duties. 



Birds' nests are difficult and extremely tedious objects for the 

 ornithological artist to draw, and I dare say more or less sur- 

 prise would be expressed by Wilson, were it possible for him. to 

 see my photograph of the nest of this species, and know that 

 such an accurate representation of it had been secured by me in 

 the fraction of a second. Most of the pictures of birds' nests 

 that I have seen in works devoted to such subjects, where they 

 have been reproduced from hand drawings, have been very un- 

 natural looking affairs. They never fail to remind me of the 

 story of the little boy who showed his father his juvenile attempt 

 to depict one of these objects. His father, after contemplating 

 the work of art for several minutes with marked care and pride, 

 and being after all at a total loss to perceive what it was intended 

 to represent, exclaimed: "Yes, my son, that is capital; to have 



