The chebec (least flycatcher), wood pewee, and blue-gray gnat-catcher saddle their nests on the upper side of limbs, as the hummingbird does, and they use the same variety of material. They are so delicate in construction that a severe storm will send them to the ground. Notes October Nineteenth The bulky basket nests of the cedar-bird and kingbird are usually found saddled on a horizontal limb in an orchard. The kingbird prefers to be near water, and will often use an elm, willow, or thorn-tree for a nesting site. From the ground, the nests resemble each other. They are about eight inches across, are composed outwardly of sticks, leaves, and moss, lined with fine roots and the like, and sometimes wood or cotton is used. October Twentieth Crows usually build in pine-trees, but where there are no pines, they will choose an oak, chestnut, maple, or poplar, not always high ones either. The nest is made of sticks, leaves, bark, and mud, lined with dried grass or fine bark. Most of the large hawks make their nests in oak, maple, chestnut, or beech trees, in the groves or forests. They often occupy the same nest year after year. October Twenty-first Of the birds that build in bushes or small trees, the following are the common species: catbird (twigs, leaves, and grass, lined with fine roots), black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoo (a sort of stick platform with a few dried leaves for a lining), and yellow-breasted chat (leaves, sticks, and bark, deeply hollowed and lined with soft grasses). Song sparrows' nests are very common. Notes October Twenty-second If it becomes necessary to protect their young, most birds seem to lose all fear. When surprised with her brood of chicks, the ruffed grouse and nearly all ground-dwelling birds will feign injury and flutter a few feet in front of the intruder, seemingly in great agony. The cries and actions are intended to lure you from the young. During the interval that you are watching or chasing her, the chicks have fairly melted into the earth. October Twenty-third The stickleback is a small fish that inhabits the brackish waters from Cape Ann to New Jersey. Mr. Hornaday says that the abdomen of the male has been provided with a gland filled with a clear secretion which coagulates into threads when it comes in contact with the water. By means of this, a hood-like nest large enough for the female to enter is fastened to the vegetation at the bottom of the sea, and the eggs are deposited in the nest. October Twenty-fourth Birds seem to have a common language, so far, at least, as conveying a warning of danger is concerned. The appearance of a hawk, or an owl, will cause a catbird, robin, vireo, or song sparrow to give a warning note which is at once heeded by every feathered neighbor within hearing. Instantly all is quiet until danger has passed. Notes October Twenty-fifth