Concord, Mass.
Ball's Hill.
1900
May 29
(No 3)
  A Nashville Warbler has been singing persistently on
Ball's Hill for the past week or more & I have suspected
that he must be breeding here. This afternoon C. stumbled
on the nest which to my surprise was near the middle
of the large opening between the Hill & the swamp at least
fifteen yards from the nearest tree or bush but admirably
covered in the middle of a tussock of Andropogon grass
which was drawn over the nest in such a way as to
perfectly conceal it from above as well as from their
sides. On the fourth side there was a short arched
tunnel or passage by which the bird entered & left the
nest. She did not flush until C. stopped within about
two feet of her. The nest contained 5 eggs which looked
perfectly fresh. (The above was written from memory; visiting the nest
next day I found close about it a few straggling Spirea  salicifolia & a pine not 20 ft off).
Nest of
Nashville
Warbler.
  As I was sitting in the woods behind the wood shed
this afternoon I saw a female Tanager making frequent
trips to & from her nest carrying to it bill fulls of
fine dry grass which she obtained in the neighboring
field. Her mate, a high-colored bird, did nothing to
help her save by hanging close about the nest &
firmly attacking every bird that happened to
approach it. His onslaughts on a Chickadee who
attempted to whistle a few times in the nest there
were most energetic & so murderous-seeming that
I half expected to see the innocent little offender
overtaken & slain.
Tanager (female)
at work
on her nest
  Redstarts are breeding everywhere about us now.
We have found their nests within fifty yards of the cabin
108