OUR FOREST CHORISTERS. , 195 



objection with him that these happen, sometimes, to be 

 near the farm- or mansion-house : always ready to defend, 

 but never over-anxious to conceal, his nest, he very often 

 builds within a small distance of the house, and not un- 

 frequently in a pear or apple tree ; rarely at a greater 

 height than six or seven feet from the ground. The nest 

 varies a little with different individuals, according to the 

 conveniency of collecting suitable materials. A very com- 

 plete one is now lying before me, and is composed of the 

 following substances : First, a quantity of dry twigs and 

 sticks ; then withered tops of weeds of the preceding year, 

 intermixed with fine straws, hay, pieces of wool and tow ; 

 and, lastly, a thick layer of fine fibrous roots, of a light- 

 brown color, lines the whole. The eggs are four, sometimes 

 five, of a cinereous blue, marked with large blotches of brown. 

 The female sits fourteen days, and generally produces two 

 broods in the season, unless robbed of her eggs, in which 

 case she will even build and lay the third time. She is, 

 however, extremely jealous of her nest, and very apt to 

 forsake it if much disturbed. It is even asserted by some 

 of our bird dealers that the old ones will actually destroy 

 the eggs, and poison the young, if either the one or the 

 other have been handled. But I can not give credit to 

 this unnatural report. I know, from my own experience, 

 at least, that it is not always their practice ; neither have I 

 ever witnessed a case of the kind above mentioned. 



3. During the period of incubation, neither cat, dog, 

 animal, or man can approach the nest without being at- 

 tacked. The cats, in particular, are persecuted whenever 

 they make their appearance, till obliged to retreat. But 

 his whole vengeance is most particularly directed against 

 that mortal enemy of his eggs and young, the black-snake. 

 Whenever the insidious approaches of this reptile are dis- 

 covered, the male darts upon it with the rapidity of an 

 arrow, dexterously eluding its bite, and striking it violently 



