. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . down to take insects near the surface ofthe water, and even, occasionally dipping under it. They had all the ease andgrace of Tree Swallows, but proved to be Kingbirds practising in a new role. This fondness for water is often exhibited in the birds choice of a nestingsite. Where accustomed to civilization,orchard or shade trees are preferred,buton many occasions nests are found on low-swinging horizontal branches over-iianging the water; and. as often, in tiny willow clumps
. The birds of Washington : a complete, scientific and popular account of the 372 species of birds found in the state . down to take insects near the surface ofthe water, and even, occasionally dipping under it. They had all the ease andgrace of Tree Swallows, but proved to be Kingbirds practising in a new role. This fondness for water is often exhibited in the birds choice of a nestingsite. Where accustomed to civilization,orchard or shade trees are preferred,buton many occasions nests are found on low-swinging horizontal branches over-iianging the water; and. as often, in tiny willow clumps or isolated trees entire-Iv surrounded liy it. The nest of the Kingbird sometimes presents that studieddisarray which is (■(>nsi<lered llie heiglit of art. Now and then a nest lias sucli adisheveled ap-pearance as til . ,. aquite discourage investigation, unlessthe ownerspresence 1)etrays the secret of occupancy. On the fshore of Cold .Spring Lake. Hin i)(niglas [.•County, we Inoted a last 1years Bullocls- •-Orioles ncsi,whicii wouMnot have attracted a sec .ond glance, ^with the new-er nest hard ^m. Douglas Couuty. Photo by W. K. Datvson. COLD SPRING LAKE. TIIE NEST APPEARS NEAR THE TOP OF THE PROJECTIN 372 rill. WESTERN KINGP-rtll). by, had it imt l)fin fur the coiistaiU sulicitiidc i>t a pair of Kingbirds, liivcstiga-tinii sliowcd ihal tlio aiiciciU pucket liad bc-i-n craniiiie<l full of grass and twigs,anil that it containi-d two fresh eggs of tiic IMycatcher. Ordinarily the nest isplaced in an upright or horizontal fork of a tree at a height of from three toforty feet. Twigs, weed-stalks, and trash of any kind enter into the Ijasal con-struction. The characteristic featine of the nesl, however, is the mould, ormatrix. conii)osed of vegetable plaster, ground woo<l. and the like. f)r else ofcompacted wool and cow-hair, which is forced into the interstices of the outerstructure and muuded inside, giving shape to the whole. This cup, in
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidbirdsofw, booksubjectbirds
