The nest is in the shape of a long pocket, and is sewed firmly to some twigs on the end of a branch. It is very curious to see the stitches which are taken in and out, with string, or long horse-hairs. The nest is tied firmly to the tree, and is woven very firmly together. It is lined with downy seeds. The entrance is small and near the top, and the nest is larger at the bottom, where the young birds will lie. The tailor-bird sews even better than the oriole. She takes a large leaf, bends the edges against those of a leaf near, and carefully sews them together, with bits of fibre for thread, while her bill is the needle. When this leaf-purse is made, the cunning little mother fills it half full of cotton-like down, from plants, and her home is made. Sometimes she chooses a large leaf, and sews its edges together. The object of these nests is to have them hung far out, where snakes cannot get at the eggs or young. For you must know that snakes are cruel enemies of birds. The house-sparrow likes to build her nest under overhanging eaves. If she builds where she has not a roof of that kind, she makes a roof for herself, of straw. Many birds, as the woodpecker, titmouse, and others, find a hole in a tree, and put in a soft lining. This makes a very nice, safe home. The golden-crested wren makes a most lovely nest of mosses, woven firmly together with spiders’ webs and cobwebs. It is very delicate and pretty. Just the opposite of this is a magpie’s nest. That is a large platform of coarse twigs, and over it a roof, quite as large, of twigs, while all around it the magpie sets up a thorn fence. You would hardly think a bird could build such a house. Once I found the nest of the song thrush. It was large, and made of grass, straw, and such things, all firmly plastered with mud. It was nearly as smooth inside as a china bowl. I wondered that this little bird could build such a large, heavy nest. Many birds which live near the water build their nests among the tall reeds. They will bind three or four reeds together, with the nest hung between them. No doubt you have often found the neat little round nest of the bluebirds, or yellow-birds, nicely woven of hairs, and made smooth and soft inside. Sometimes their soft, smooth nests are woven of fine, soft fibres. It is wonderful how fine and clean they are, after the little busy bird has made them ready for her home. Many birds build in clefts of rocks, or under large overhanging stones by the water-side. Their chief thought seems to be, to have the nest safely hidden. Other birds build right on the ground. Have you never found a lark’s nest, low among daisies, grass and buttercups? Last summer I found two nests of the meadow pipit, or peewee. They were built of dry grass in a hollow, shaded by some bramble-berry bushes and big dandelions. I had one of these nests drawn for the cover of this Reader. It was a very pretty bower, and the little birds grew up safely.