. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . rd his lady love a wide rangeI if ch(iice in the matter of homes,and seeks thus to drive her to theine\itable conclusion that there isonly one home-maker for \er this may be. it is certainthat one sometimes finds a con-siderable group of nest-balls, eachof apparent suitability, I:)ef(^re anyare occupied. On the other hand, the male continues his harmless acti\-ities long afterhis mate has selected one of his early efforts and dejiosited her eggs: so thatthe oologist m
. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . rd his lady love a wide rangeI if ch(iice in the matter of homes,and seeks thus to drive her to theine\itable conclusion that there isonly one home-maker for \er this may be. it is certainthat one sometimes finds a con-siderable group of nest-balls, eachof apparent suitability, I:)ef(^re anyare occupied. On the other hand, the male continues his harmless acti\-ities long afterhis mate has selected one of his early efforts and dejiosited her eggs: so thatthe oologist may have to sample a dozen cocks nests, or decoys, before theright one is found. Some em])tv nests mav be perfectly finished, but othersare apt to lack the soft lining: while still others, not having recei\-ed theclose-pressed interstitial filling, will l)e sodden from the last rains. The Marsh Wrens nest is a compact ball of \-egetable materials, lashedmi(lwa\- of cat-tails or bulrushes, li\-ing or dead, anil h;i\ing a neat entrancehole in one side. A consideralile \ariet\- of materials is used in construction,but. NEST OF WESTERN M.\KSII WREN, IN SITU. THE TULE WREN. 303 ill an}- gi\en iiest only one textile snbstance will preponderate. Dead cat-tailleaves may be employed, in which case the numerous loopholes will be filledwith matted down from the same plant. Fine dry grasses mav be utilized,and these so closel_\- wo\-en as practically to exclude the rain. On Moses Lake,where rankl}- growing l)ulrushes predominate in the nesting areas, spirogvrais the material most largely used. This, the familiar, scum-like plant whichmasses under water in (|uiet places, is plucked ijut b)- the \enturesome birds ingreat wet hanks and plastered about the nest until the required thickness isattained. While wet, the substance matches its surroundings admiral)ly, butas it dries out it shrinks considerably and fades to a sickly light green, orgreenish gray, which advertises itself among the obsti
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Keywords: ., bookauthordawsonwilliamleon1873, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
