154 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 
sparrows build in trees or bushes; the vesper and Hud- 
sonian on the ground, while the English sparrow will 
put its nest in a tree, bush, vine, or in a niche in the 
wall; the song sparrow usually nests on the ground, 
but occasionally it will build in a thick bush or low tree. 
The past summer I found three of these nests in ever- 
greens, and one was occupied by two broods in the sea- 
son. Brush heaps, especially by the roadside and in 
orchards, are favorite places of this domestic little bird. 
Most of the thrushes (Zwrdide) prefer trees or bushes, 
but like the finches they never place the nest very high. 
Wilson’s thrush and the brown thrashers usually nest 
on the ground, though the latter will occasionally use 
for the purpose a thick bush or low tree. The robins, 
like the English sparrows, seem to have modified their 
habits by civilization and intercourse with man, and 
build in all kinds of places, in trees, bushes, in out- 
buildings, on fence rails, and even on verandas of dwell- 
ings. Wrens utilize knot holes in trees or buildings, 
cavities in stumps and fence posts or boxes placed in 
the lawns and gardens; these little chatterers are fond 
of human companionship, and, like the cat-birds, are 
* far more musical when assured of a listener. I have 
heard one in a morning repeat his delightful little song 
of “Wren! wren! wee, wee, butter, butter,” more than 
‘a hundred times, just over my head and but a few feet 
from his nest; then when I have hidden away from his 
sight, though still in hearing, he has remained for a 
long time as silent as a mouse. Chickadees, nuthatches 
and woodpeckers almost invariably use holes in stumps, 
