Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
QUEER BIRD NESTS.
Strange Materials Which They Emu
p1Oy for House Building Purposes.


Strange Materials Which They Emu
ploy for House Building Purposes.
Hidden away in an obscure corner of the
Smithsonian Institution is an exhibit that
Is truly fascinating. 1t Is designed to show,
Star writer was informed, the various
nethods of house building practiced by
birds. While the materials they employ for
the purpose are wonderfully varied, it Is
not less interesting to observe the con-
trivances used for concealment. For exam
pie, little feathered creature common in
the neighborhood of this city, called the
gI.at catcher, covers its nest with lichenS.
1t always selects Hchen-covered tree, SO
that the artificial structure looks like a
part of the branch to which it is attached.
Humming birds use lichens in similar
fashion, and so does the familiar wood
pewee.
In the collection described are several
nests of the caciqucs. or yellow tails These
birds. the largest species of which are
about the size of a crow, are found all the
way from Mexico to tropical South Ameri-
ca. Some of their nests are as much as
four feet In length, being woven out of
vegetable fibers In the shape of pendant
purses. with openings at the top. The
purses are SO strongly made that it is very
difficult to tear them open. They are hung
usually upon solitary trees, away from the
forest. Sometimes fifty or seventy-ffve of
them will be seen hanging from the bough
lance looks as il it bore fruit. When prac-
ticable, the birds select trees on which
there are hornets nests, because monkeys,
which are their enemies, are afraid of
hornets.
Another very odds nest Is that of the
water ouzel-a bird of slate gray tint.
nearly as big as a robin. with a short tail.
1t is found along the rocky streams of the
western United States. and as far north as
Alaska. The nest is built at the waters
edge, at the bottom of a little waterfall, SO
that the water may splash constantly upon
it. 1t often measures as much as two feet
in diameter, approaching the spherical in
shape The interior portion of the mass Is
composed of leaves and grasses mostly.
while the outside IS covered with living
moss. The moss is kept green by the water
splashed upon it,
Rather striking contrast to the forego-
ing is afforded by the nest of the tern. This
bird merely scrapes away the pebbles and
shells on the beach above high-water marx
SO to make a slight depression. There 1t
lays its eggs. which are speckled and of
such a tint as to be almost indistinguisha-
BILE from their Surroundings. The newly
Matched young are similarly tinted for pro-
tective purposes. In the Smithsonian col
lection are several nests of the elder duck.
The manner in which this interesting water
fowl lines it's nest with feathers plucked
from it's own breast Is familiar story.
Among the most curious of the nests in
this exhibit are those of orioles One,
built by a Baltimore orioier ~ composed en-
made of ordinary grocer's Irvine. These
birds will eagerly appropriate any such
suitable material for house building. They
are very fond Of coIored yarns. The orchard
orfole, found all over the eastern United
States, makes its nest always of fine green
grasses. 1t takes nothing but green grass.
so that by subsequent drying the nest
comes to be of a straw color and does not
decay Other birds commonly make use of
dead grass. more or less.
The fish hawk builds a new nest over the
old ore year after year, thus accommodating
in the course of time a huge heap of ma
terfal. For this purpose it collects an as
tonishing variety Of things. In one fish
hawks nest on Plum Island, N. Y, DR..
Charles F. Allen found barrel slaves, a
bootjack, net floats, seaweeds, a rake.
feather duster part of an oar. a backing
BRUSH a rag doll, toy schooner. broom,
tin cans. piece of board. with fishing
line and hook attached. door mat corn
stalks, masses Of sod that had been turned
up by tine pillow, ribs of sheep and cattle.
and on top of all the bleached skulls Of
sheep-these last evidently intended for
ornament.