166 
OUR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
moving for their nesting-places, and I shall 
have trouble to find them. You know we 
Crossbills are early nesters.” 
Yes,’’ replied one of the Wrens, and we 
have often wondered why you always nested 
and reared your young in so uncomfortable a 
part of the year, when you might wait until it 
was more pleasant and warm.” 
Why, don’t you see that we are the same 
as all birds,” answered Crossbill, directed 
by the force of nature to have our young just 
when there is an abundance of food to rear 
them on ? You Chicks and Wrens do not have 
your young ones hatclied until there are great 
numbers of caterpillars and grubs and worms 
for tlieir food, for such are necessary to them. 
The Owls and Hawks have theirs earlier, when 
there is the greatest number of rabbits and rats 
to give them, before the foliage of the trees and 
shrubs is so dense that they cannot readily see 
their prey. But we Crossbills are obliged to 
get our children brought up, and able to fly, 
before our food, the seeds of pines and other 
evergreens, is exhausted. Why, bless your 
