THE BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND 
97 
running up and down the bark of large 
trees, looking for the larvae and bugs 
that form his diet. The nest, usually 
on the ground at the foot of some large 
tree, is a slight structure of grass, and 
contains, when complete, four small 
white eggs, with reddish brown dots 
all over their surface. 
Leaving the uplands and wandering 
Black and White Warbler 
down toward the river, along its banks 
Blackbirds will be discovered looking 
about for a suitable bush in which to 
build their nests, or if it is fairly late 
in May, one may see the male bird 
perched on some branch overhanging 
the stream, while he sings to his 
heart’s content. Within the thick bush¬ 
es, or perhaps in the long grass, the 
little brown female is quietly sitting 
on her substantial nest. In the reeds 
the marsh wrens are busily twittering 
and excitedly peeping forth at anyone 
who intrudes. Their nest is a won¬ 
derfully made structure, carefully 
woven of dead reeds and fastened to 
living ones. It looks more like a gourd 
than a nest. A tiny hole in the top ad¬ 
mits the parent birds. It is carefuly 
lined with feathers and soft material, 
in which six or eight chocolate colored 
eggs are deposited. This little nest 
of the Marsh Wren’s is one of the most 
perfect of bird homes. 
But what is that form that scuttled 
away so suddenly, hardly giving one 
a chance to determine its character? A 
careful search will reveal a Rail’s nest, 
with its complement of seven or eight 
buff eggs speckled with black. In the 
northernmost state of New England 
may be found the Coot, which lays 
its eggs on a tussock in the middle of 
some marsh. The eggs resemble in 
color those of the Rail, but in size are 
as large as those of the bantam. 
Cat Bird 
In marshy borders of lakes or ponds 
are found the nests of the Horned, or 
Pied-billed Grebes (ITell-divers they 
are called when they appear along the 
sea coast in winter). They build a 
platform of dead weeds, which they 
anchor to living ones. The Loon con¬ 
structs a similar resting place for the 
two eggs (as large as those of the 
