160 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [16:4— April, 192 



"Where is the home?" Perhaps it is within your immediate range 

 ot vision. If this be true, your little friend among the leaves may 

 only be pretending an air of unconcern. 



Those who have been fortunate enough to find the nest, which 

 resembles a Dutch oven in form, have told us much that is of 

 interest. Nothing that safeguards the family is overlooked, as 

 those who have hunted almost in vain, will agree. The dome- 

 shaped framework, erected by the joint labors of male and female, 

 is often placed over a little depression in the ground, near some 

 fallen log, low bushes, or other sheltered spot among the leaves. 

 Within two days it is completed and is found to consist of such 

 materials as dead grass, weed stems, heads of grass, grapevine 

 bark, and strips of chestnut bark. It is now ready for its lining 

 of dead and decayed leaf stems, leaves of chestnut, oak, beech, 

 hickory, cherry and dogwood, and sometimes moss and small dead 

 twigs. An additional lining of grasses, blossom stalks, and long 

 horsehairs makes a soft bed for the eggs and nestlings. Some- 

 times, also, an interlining of grass and weed stems is found. The 

 outer side is ingeniously concealed by grass, dry leaves, and some- 

 times overgrowing vines and wild flowers. The entrance, opening 

 on the lower side, is intended to be known only by the owners of 

 the nest. No wonder the devoted parents feel that their nestlings 

 will be safe in this hidden retreat ! 



May we not pause a moment, again to reflect upon the wisdom 

 of this bird, gained by implicit obedience to the guidance offered in 

 answer to its call? 



Dr. T. M. Brewer found a nest in Hingham, Mass., which 

 measured six inches in diameter and 2}4" in depth. The cup had 

 a diameter of ^W an d a depth of 2". This being very large for the 

 size of the bird, he explained it as being probably due to the shape 

 of the cavity into which it was sunk. Other nests have been found 

 to consist entirely of pine needles. The nests are some times com- 

 pleted several days before the eggs are laid. In the vicinity of 

 New York City they are usually completed by the middle of May, 

 and since young have been seen to be fed as late as August, it is 

 believed that at least two broods perhaps three, are reared each year. 



The eggs are usually five in number, sometimes there are but 

 four, and less often we find six. They are a creamy white, spotted 

 with reddish brown, and faint lilac. One observer writes that both 

 sexes incubate. Frequently the cowbird finds her way to the nest, 



