NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
time, and it was most interesting to notice 
how much more slowly the latter developed. 
When the catbird babies were fully dressed 
in pinfeathers, the down had scarcely begun 
to show on the bluebirds. Their eyes were 
three days later in opening, and the birds 
themselves were only half the size. Both 
families were very late, and were second, 
or possibly third, broods, as they were 
hatched July lo, long after the first bluebird 
brood had flown. 
A propos of this, a pair of bluebirds had 
reared a brood in that same post in May, 
but I do not know whether it was this same 
pair or some other. It was presumably the 
same pair, for no one can say how many 
species choose the same nest year after year. 
We know phoebes and red-headed wood- 
peckers do so, and I have felt quite sure 
chimney swifts sometimes do. 
When the little catbirds were ready to fly, 
there was a great commotion. An innocent- 
looking white kitten strolled by, to the con- 
sternation of the parents. One baby was 
216 
