Some Remarkable Nests and Eggs. 35 



in a blackthorn bush, and measured three inches 

 deep and three and a half across the top. 



Nearly all wild creatures differ from each other 

 in individual qualities, like human beings, and, 

 what is more, behave differently according to cir- 

 cumstances ; and in order that my readers may 

 see the force of this, I will give a few striking 

 instances of birds departing from established nesting 

 rules. 



The Common Wren builds a nest which is domed 

 over and has a sort of bull's-eye entrance in front, 

 but specimens have been found quite open at the 

 top, because they had been built under a sheltering 

 ledge of rock, and the birds evidently judged them 

 to be without need of a domed covering in conse- 

 quence. This may, I think, be taken as a clear 

 instance of departure from architectural style. 



The Spotted Flycatcher makes her nest, as a rule, 

 of straws, fibrous roots, moss, hair, feathers, rabbits' 

 down, and cobwebs ; but not long ago a specimen 

 was discovered near Hyde Park Corner, London, 

 made of old wax vestas and cigarette-papers, simply 

 because smokers who had rested on surrounding 

 seats had rendered these materials far more plentiful 

 than those used by the species in the ordinary way, 

 and which were practically unprocurable except by 

 long flights into the country and back again — a 

 truly wonderful instance of a bird adapting itself to 

 circumstances. 



The Great Tit or Oxeye selects a hole in a tree. 



