MOOR-HENS IN HYDE PARK 199 



"Why strange?" said the man in surprise. "Why 

 strange? Because of the boys, always throwing 

 stones at a bird. The nest is so low down that 

 any boy could put his hand in and take the eggs." 

 "Take the eggs!" cried the man, more astonished 

 than ever. "And throwing stones at a bird! 

 Who ever heard of a boy doing such things!" 



Closely related to this error is another error, 

 which is that noise in itself is distressing to birds, 

 and has the effect of driving them away. To all 

 sounds and noises which are not associated with 

 danger to them, birds are absolutely indifferent. 

 The rumbling of vehicles, puffing and shrieking 

 of engines, and braying of brass bands, alarm 

 them less than the slight popping of an air gun, 

 where that modest weapon of destruction is fre- 

 quently used against them. They have no 

 "nerves" for noise, but the apparition of a small 

 boy silently creeping along the hedge-side, in 

 search of nests or throwing stones, is very terri- 

 fying to them. They fear not cattle and horses, 

 however loud the bellowing may be; and if we 

 were to transport and set loose herds of long- 

 necked camelopards, trumpeting elephants, and 

 rhinoceroses of horrible aspect, the little birds 



