COLLIGC'I‘ING NESTS AND EGGS. 31

A collection of birds' nests is a telling object lesson in the study of ornithology. ’amiliar as I am with them. I never see the nests of some birds without: feeling the most intense admiration for the mar- \‘elous skill which has aided them in forming a structure man would find it difficult. it' not impossible. to duplicate. A bird‘s nest in its original site is a concrete expression of the intelligence of its maker; for the foresight displayed in the choice of a situation. and the inge- nuity shown in the construction of the nest, even it largely instinctive now, originated in the intelligence of a line of ancestors.

Nests may be collected before they have been used, when the birds will gene ‘ally build again; 01' you may wait and take them after the birds have left them, labeling each nest with what you have learned of the history of its owners. For example: Time required for its con- struction; whether made by one or both sexes; notes on the laying;r of the eggs; period of incubation: whether both sexes assisted in incu- bation; care of the young: number of days they were in the nest. etc.

Some nests, for example the pendent “ baskets " of Vireos or such as are placed in crutches. should be taken with the crotch or branch to which they are attached.

\Vith others it is obviously impossible to do this. They should therefore be placed in a frame of wire and wrapped about. with fine wire thread. To make this frame. twist two pieces of annealed wire. painted brown. into the shape of a letter X. About midway from the pond of intersection and the end of the arm. bend the wires upward at right angles. Now take the fine hair or thread wire and wind it abrut the four horizontal arms of the frame until its bottom looks bk: .1 spider‘s web; place the nest in this half-formed basket. bend tlu upright wires inward or outward as the ease requires. and continue wiiding until the nest is bound tirmly. The size of the frame and tht wire used in its construction may be varied to suit the nest.