Northern Observations of Inland Birds 199 



of it, and often the nest is most conspicuously situated 

 near a public place, and so low down that one can almost 

 lay one's hand on the eggs. Also the parent bird, on 

 being disturbed, rushes off with a tremendous flutter 

 of wings, which often betrays her ill-kept secret from 

 many yards around. Again, other birds are judicious in 

 their selection of building sites, and in the architecture 

 of their nests. The rook selects branches with a view to 

 security in high wind, and she builds a deep nest, so that 

 nothing short of a gale of exceptional strength is likely 

 to disturb her domestic felicity, while the wren, the hedge- 

 sparrow, the chaffinch, the magpie, and scores of others 

 we might name, so arrange their homes that the young 

 are given every comfort and shelter they are likely to 

 need. The pigeon, on the other hand, places its draughty 

 structure so that a high gale is as likely as not to tear 

 the whole concern to bits, or alternatively to tip eggs or 

 young into empty space, yet this bird prospers exceedingly ! 

 Two or three broods are reared according to the season, 

 and if the eggs are taken the bird will go on laying an 

 almost indefinite number. 



Another peculiarity about pigeons is that they drink 

 in gulps like mammals instead of in sips like other birds. 

 This pecuHarity no doubt arises from the manner in which 

 the young birds are fed, their food then being gulped in 

 liquid form — indeed it is difficult to think of any other 

 satisfactory way in which the young of vegetarian birds, 

 dependent on their parents during infancy, could be 

 catered for. 



Dealing briefly with other members of the family, the 

 stock dove is in habits not far separated from the ring 

 dove. It is, of course, smaller, being about the same size 

 as a homer, and it is identified by the general impression 

 of uniform blue. It loves ancient hardwood forests, and 

 is seldom found in any abundance in localities where 

 most of the trees are of the coniferous order. 



