124 Pictures of Bird Life 



JNIanv AVater-hens' and A\"ild Ducks' nests have been 

 robbed l)y tlic Crows before I could t^-et up to photograph 

 them. The Crows' nest is. in fact, hke one of the castles 

 of old, commanding from a lieight a ricli lowland district, 

 the Crows themselves being worthy representati^'es of the 

 robber barons. Like them, they Vive by liarrying periodically 

 their weaker neighbours. From tliem nothing is safe. 

 Eggs and young birds are a regular article of diet ; young 

 rabbits, partridges, pheasants, and hares are all carried off; 

 toll is taken of all the chickens and young ducklings within 

 reach ; and, failing these, carrion and insects of various sorts 

 are devoured. 



Tlie Hooded Crow I do not remember seeing so far 

 south. 



The Kook. of coiu'se, abounds in all suburban districts, 

 thougli unfo^'tunately it now seems to })e on the verge of 

 extinction as a nesting species in I^ondon itself, the Gray's 

 Inn rookery being the only one left. 



A pleasant thing it is in spring-time to liear the 

 familiar caws and to see the birds busilv at work. rej)airing 

 the old nests, damaged by the winds of winter, and making 

 them ready for another seasons tenancy. \"ery deep and 

 cosy are these nests in reality, warmly lined and comfort- 

 able, though they look so rough from Ijclow. 



When the bitter east winds are howling tlirougli the 

 leafless branches, and tlie tapering twigs are bending in tlie 

 gale like a ship's topmasts, tliis depth is necessary to prevent 

 their squab young from being thrown out. .Vs it is. some- 



