XV. THE BOBOLINK'S NEST 146 Bobolink. _Dolichonyx oryzivorus._ XVI. THE TANAGER'S NEST 155 Scarlet Tanager. _Piranga erythromelas._ XVII. THE WILES OF A WARBLER 163 Black-throated Blue. _Dendroica coerulescens._ XVIII. A RAINY-DAY TRAMP 173 Oven-bird. _Seiurus aurocapillus._ XIX. THE VAGARIES OF A WARBLER 180 Redstart. _Setophaga ruticilla._ Chestnut-sided W. _Dendroica pensylvanica._ XX. A CLEVER CUCKOO 190 Black-billed C. _Coccyzus erythrophthalmus._ XXI. TWO LITTLE DRUMMERS 201 Sapsucker. _Sphyrapicus varius._ Red-headed Woodpecker. _Melanerpes erythrocephalus._ XXII. FROM MY WINDOW 221 Phoebe. _Sayornis phoebe._ Robin. _Merula migratoria._ Great-crested Fly-catcher. _Myiarchus crinitus._ Purple Grackle. _Quiscalus quiscula._ Downy Woodpecker. _Dryobates pubescens._ Chestnut-sided Warbler. _Dendroica pensylvanica._ Kingbird. _Tyrannus tyrannus._ XXIII. THE COMICAL CROW BABY 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?