AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. 
203 
the reception of the first layer of materials 
used in the construction of their nest. Both 
birds labored diligently, and soon the hollow 
in the earth was deep enough. The nest was 
then begun, both birds bringing in their beaks 
large dead leaves and placing them in the 
excavation, in a sort of basket-form across 
each other in different directions ; these were 
gradually carried up in the same manner, and 
were interwoven together, as much to secure 
firmness as protection from the rain and dew. 
On one side, facing the south-east, an aperture 
was left, just large enough for the easy pass- 
age of either bird into the structure, but on 
all the other sides it was closed. 
The surrounding walls of the nest were 
hardly completed, and the artisans had not 
commenced the roof when they heard, down 
by the meadow, the loud tones of Bobolink, 
and a confused medley of other voices, appar- 
ently of the neigli]»r)ring birds. Flying to the 
scene, the G<^'*lden Crowns discovered Bobolink 
perched on a tree on the edge of the meadow, 
oiarounded by many of the neighbors, who 
