weeks and is attended to by l)Oth birds. As the operation progresses feathers 

 drop out increasingly from the birds' breasts, so that a well-feathered nest means 

 eggs nearly ready to hatch. When disturbed the parent birds keep up a pitiful 

 complaining, but usually from a safe distance. 



The eggs, varying in number from two to six, are among the best known of 

 Hawks" eggs and present interesting variations, both in size, in shape and in the 

 amount of pigmentation. It is time, however, to call a halt upon the indiscrimi- 

 nate gathering of Hawks' eggs. The museums are loaded down with them and 

 nine-tenths of those annually levied upon in the name of boyish curiosity are 

 destined to find their way into mouse nests or discarded boxes of sawdust. 



The Nightingale and Glowworm 



By William Cowper 



A nightingale, that all day long 

 Had cheered the village with his song. 

 Nor yet at eve his note suspended, 

 Nor yet when eventide was ended, 

 Began to feel, as well he might, 

 The keen demands of appetite ; 

 When, looking eagerly around, 

 He spied far off, upon the ground, 

 .\ something shining in the dark. 

 And knew the glowworm by his spark ; 

 So, stooping down from hawthorn top. 

 He thought to put him in his crop. 

 The worm, aware of his intent. 

 Harangued him iluis, right eloquent: 

 "Did yoti admire my lamp," quoth he, 

 ".\s much as I your minstrelsy. 

 You wiiuld .ibhor to do me wrong. 

 As much as I to spoil your song ; 

 For 'twas the selfsame power divine 

 Tatight you to sing and me lo shine : 

 That you with music ; T with light, 

 Jilight beautify and cheer the night." 

 The songster heard his short oration. 

 And warbling out his approbation. 

 Released him, as my story tells. 

 And found a supper somewhere else. 



147 



