158 Pictures of Bird Life 



these unlikely localities it may often be seen sittint^- on 

 its scanty nest, only a few feet above tlie ])assino- tlirono*, 

 of wliom it takes not the slightest notice. It is very 

 extraordinary, for one wlio knows tlie war}' habits of this 

 bird in more secluded places, to watch it boldly feeding with 

 tame Pigeons and Sparrows, and ri\'alling tliese habitues of 

 Cockneydom in audacity. It will come readily within a foot 

 or two if you throw food to it. The nest does not rank 

 very high as a specimen of bird architecture. \ rude and 

 open platform of sticks, through whicli the eggs may be 

 readily seen from below, suffices for tlie purpose. I ha^e 

 found AVood-pigeons very sliy at the nest, and, however 

 carefidly hidden, have not succeeded in photographing the 

 sitting bird. Two attempts this year failed, and in botli 

 cases the birds deserted tlieir eggs. 



One nest was on the top of a tall rose-brier in a small 

 wood, and the camera was fastened to the branches of an 

 adjacent oak-tree and well hidden witli leaves, while I retired 

 witli a long tube to the shelter of some thick bushes, where 

 I was perfectly concealed from \ iew. Here I waited nearly 

 tlie whole day; and though several times the birds could be 

 heard in the surrounding trees, sometimes very near to the 

 nest, yet they never visited it again. 



AVhile waiting, the excited clucking of a hen Partridge 

 attracted my attention, and presently, while lying motionless 

 full length on the ground, a large brood of young Partridges, 

 only about a day old, came running up two and two, followed 

 by their mother, a Red-legged Partridge, in a great state of 



