NATURE STUDY. 
PUBLISHED UNDER THE) AUSPICKS OF THE 
Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences. 
Vol. II. October, 1901. No. 5. 
Vacation Notes Among New England Homes. 
BY MARY HAZFN ARNOLD. 
So many charming fresh air friends have kept open house 
for us this summer, that we are tempted to pass on a few 
of the good times to our friends who enjoy watching the 
bird architects. . 
During the last week in May it was our good fortune to 
discover Madame Wood-thrush just as she began to lay 
the foundations of her summer home. She brought sticks 
and long grasses, arranging them with greatest skill among 
some berry bushes beneath the alders, shaping the inner 
circle with her round breast, seemingly caring little for the 
watchers on the hillslope near by. 
Nearly two weeks elapsed ere the structure was consid¬ 
ered good enough for the four eggs of blue. Then followed 
the patient weeks of waiting and care before the miracle of 
transformation was completed, and I have never seen a pret¬ 
tier sight than that of the mother thrush sitting on the edge 
of the nest, while within its brim clustered the four young 
birds with their spotted breasts, looking out with bright 
eyes upon an untried world. 
In the woods beyond the home of this little friend in 
brown, was found the little mound of leaves and straw up- 
