CHAPTER TI. 



SOME REMARKABLE NESTS AXD EGGS. 



The Author's Delight at Finding- his First Bird's-nest — Some Birds 

 better Xost-builders than others of the same S^^ecies— Instances 

 of Birds Departing from Nesting Rules— Wise and Foolish, Idle 

 and Industrious Birds — Feathered Thieves — Birds that Take in 

 Lodgers — Non-Gregarious -Birds that Dwell Together — Ancestral 

 Homes of Birds— Nests in Curious Situations — Strange IMaterials 

 used for Nests — Accidents to Nest-builders — Birds that Never 

 Build Nests for Themselves— Prudent Birds that Build Spare 

 Nests — Ground-building Birds — The Cock Sparrow and the 

 Fighting Roosters. 



There are few natural objects that children view 

 with half the delight a Avild bird's nest and eggs 

 can give. How sweetly I remember the first one 

 I ever fomid ! It belonged to a Song Thrush, and 

 rested on an old moss-clad ash stump which leant 

 over a pool of clear water in such a way that I 

 could see myself plainly mirrored below whilst 

 climbing to find out what the wonderful little 

 treasure house contained, and had serious mis- 

 givings as to the ducking I should suffer in the 

 event of the stump breaking with me. Upon 

 reaching a 23oint high enough to command a view 

 of the interior of the nest, I rubbed my youthful 

 eyes Avith delight. Was ever such a sight seen 



