BY 236

Common Crow. _Corvus americanus._

XXIV. A MIDSUMMER WOOING 244

American Goldfinch. _Spinus tristis._

XXV. A PLUM-TREE ROMANCE 252

American Goldfinch. _Spinus tristis._

XXVI. SOLITARY THE THRUSH 259

Hermit Thrush. _Turdus aonalaschkoe pallasii._

INDEX 269

ON THE GREAT SOUTH BAY.

Precious qualities of silence haunt
Round these vast margins ministrant.

'T is here, 't is here, thou canst unhand thy heart
And breathe it free, and breathe it free
By rangy marsh, in lone sea-liberty.

SIDNEY LANIER.

LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE AIR.

I.

THE KINGBIRD'S NEST.

To study a nest is to make an acquaintance. However familiar the bird,
unless the student has watched its ways during the only domestic period
of its life,--nesting time,--he has still something to learn. In fact,
he has almost everything to learn, for into those few weeks is crowded a
whole lifetime of emotions and experiences which fully bring out the
individuality of the bird. Family life is a test of character, no less
in the nest than in the house. Moreover, to a devotee of the science
that some one has aptly called Ornithography, nothing is so attractive.
What hopes it holds out! Who can guess what mysteries shall be
disclosed, what interesting episodes of life shall be seen about that
charmed spot?

To find a newly built nest is the first June work of the bird-student,
and this year on the Great South Bay a particularly inviting one
presented itself, on the top branch of a tall oak-tree near my "inn of
rest." It was in plain sight from the veranda. The builder evidently
cared nothing for concealment, and relied, with reason, upon its
inaccessible position for safety. To be sure, as days went by and oak
leaves grew, a fair screen for the little dwelling was not lacking; but
summer breezes were kind, and often blew them aside, and, better still,
from other points of view the nest was never hidden.

To whom, then, did the nest belong? I hoped to the kingbird, who at that
moment sat demurely upon the picket fence below, apparently interested
only in passing insects; and while I looked the question was answered by
Madame Tyrannis herself, who came with the confidence of ownership,
carrying a beakful of buil