. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . way of escape planned thruthe opposite wall. The mud cup is carefully shaped with walls an inch ortwo in thickness, a total breadth of eight or ten inches, and a like depth. Inthe best construction this cavity is filled to a depth of three or four incheswith a loose mat of fine twigs of a uniform size. Upon this in turn is placeda coiled mattress of fine, clean rootlets, the whole affording a very sanitaryarrangement. Another fortress, of single construction, was four feet dee
. The birds of Washington; a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . way of escape planned thruthe opposite wall. The mud cup is carefully shaped with walls an inch ortwo in thickness, a total breadth of eight or ten inches, and a like depth. Inthe best construction this cavity is filled to a depth of three or four incheswith a loose mat of fine twigs of a uniform size. Upon this in turn is placeda coiled mattress of fine, clean rootlets, the whole affording a very sanitaryarrangement. Another fortress, of single construction, was four feet deep and threeand a half feet thru; and that, too, after making liberal allowance for chanceprojections. The component sticks measure up to three feet in length and 28 THE AMERICAN MAGPIE. three-quarters of an inch in thickness. Xests are repaired and re-occupiedyear after year; or if they fall into hopeless decay, new structures are erectedupon the ruins of the old. The tenement photographed on Homely Island triple, but thethe dome forthe cpropeifeet fiIt COeggsc is a double nestupper third is (it lookmerel / meas. Photo bv the Author. MAGPIES NEST ON ISLAND. THE AMERICAN MAGPIE. 29 This historic pile is in marked contrast to one sighted in a willow onthe hanks of Crab Creek near Odessa. My attention was attracted to thespot by a scuffle, which took place between a Magpie and a pair of Kingbirds;and when I started to examine the nest, I was in honest doubt whether itmight not belong to the Kingbirds. The foundation was of mud, but thiscame near constituting the outside of the nest instead of the inside. Theaction of the wind upon the willows had compressed the mud bowl to a boat-shaped receptacle wherein lay five brown beauties, unmistakable Magpieseggs. There was a copious lining of rootlets, and a light half-cover ofthorn twigs; but the whole structure was not over a foot in diameter andscarcely that in depth. like Blue
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Keywords: ., bookauthordaws, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds
