BIRDS AND BIRD LIFE 



25 



Fig. 15. 



Fig. 16. 



Fig. 15. — Song Sparrow's nest and eggs. The Song Sparrow sometimes nests 

 on the ground and sometimes in bushes. The early nests are usually built on the 

 ground, before the foliage is out on the bushes. This bird represents the great 

 Sparrow family, valuable alike for their destruction of weed seed and insects. 



Fig. 16. — Ruby-throated Humming Bird's nest and eggs. The Humming Bird's 

 nest, built of the softest, cottony plant down, bound together with spider and worm 

 webs, and covered with lichens from, the trees, is both beautiful and difficult to detect. 

 Contrary to the popular belief, these tiny birds do not confine their feeding to honey, 

 but devour many tiny, but injurious, insects. (Photos by B, S. Bowdish, Secretary, 

 New Jersey Audubon Society.) 



Fig. 17. 



Fig. 18. 



Fig, 17. — Baltimore Oriole's nest. One of the most beautiful examples of bird 

 architecture The orioles rank next to the cuckoos as destroyers of hairy caterpillars. 



Fig. 18. — Wood Thrush's nest and eggs. The Wood Thrush is not only ranked 

 by many as our finest northern singer, but is a very useful insect destroyer. (Photos 

 by B. S. Bowdish, Secretary, New Jersey Audubon Society.) 



