176 WILD NATURE'S WAYS. 



second brood ; but I suppose it was too late in 

 the season, and they disappeared, to my great 

 regret, childless. 



The bullfinch is one of the birds that has 

 distinctly benefited by the Wild Birds' Protection 

 Acts, and may now be fairly described as 

 numerous. Incubating females of this species sit 

 very closely. The individual figured in our illus- 

 tration (on page 173) allowed my brother and 

 our friend, Major Petre, to part the branches in 

 front of her without concern. 



Bullfinches sometimes breed very late in the 

 season. Whilst in Essex some years ago, I found 

 a nest containing only half-grown young ones in 

 the middle of September. 



The yellow-hammer is also another late 

 breeder, and a great lo\'cr of hedgerows and furze 

 bushes. Its short, oft-repeated song is probably 

 better known than that of any other British bird, 

 and, although accounted monotonous by some 

 people, is, I must confess, a welcome sound of 

 the countryside to me, in spite of its hacknej^ed 

 s\dlabic rendering. 



The nest is generally situated on or near the 

 ground, although I have on several occasions 

 found it at an elevation of four or five feet in 

 hedgerows. Some years ago I discovered one 

 close to the permanent way on a railroad embank- 

 ment, where the sitting bird was shaken all day 



