A lady who has carefully studied the ways of birds, says that all birds of a kind do not build equally good nests. For instance, some robins build very strong, neat nests. Others build loose, untidy nests, which will hardly hold the eggs. This same lady says that birds, by practice, improve in nest building. As a rule, she thinks the old birds, that have built for several years, make better nests than robins building for their first brood. She says she watched a robin, which had a home in her garden. That robin improved in nest building, and built better and better each year. Perhaps no bird builds a more firm, neat, and elegant nest, than that smallest of all,--the humming-bird. This bird does not need a large nest, she is so tiny, and her eggs, usually only two, are like small beans. The nest is made in the shape of a cup. It is built of soft moss, or the downy seeds of plants. These are pressed and moulded until they are almost like felt. The nest is made quite thick. All over the outside, the bird fastens bits of moss, or lichens. These are stuck on with a kind of glue, from the bird’s mouth. This is done, not so much for beauty, as to conceal the nest. When thus pasted over with moss, it looks like a knot or bit of tree branch. This tiny bird is very shy, and wishes to hide its nest. It is so cunningly built, that even when close by it you are little likely to see it. The bird does not fly straight to, or from, this nest. That might lead enemies there. Instead, it rises high, straight up into the air, and when up out of sight, takes its direction as it chooses. When it comes back, it pursues a similar plan. From far up in the air, above the nest, it drops straight down, like a little fiery star, into its home. The goldfinch is another bird which glues mosses on the outside of its nest to hide it. While this is done rather for use than beauty, I think most birds like to have a pretty home. I have seen birds weave bits of colored wool, or silk, in and out the nest, plainly for the sake of the color, and not for strength. All the finch family line their nest with down or feathers. The wood-wren, on the contrary, lines its nest always with hair, and never with feathers. She goes far and wide to find soft hairs for this use. I think an oriole’s nest is one of the most beautiful of bird-homes. The mother-oriole makes the nest, and her mate brings her wool, fine root-fibres, hairs and threads, which she uses. If he brings her a bit which she does not like, she throws it away, and seems to think him a bird of very little sense. If Mrs. Oriole is not suited with her work, as it goes on, she tears it down, and goes to work again. She wants it just right.