DOVES 9 



said in favour of the dove's method, for, other things 

 being equal, the more pronounced the structure of the 

 nest, the more conspicuous is it likely to be. In this 

 Spartan nursery the dove lays two white eggs. Seen 

 from below, they may be mistaken for the sky, but 

 from above, they are presumably somewhat con- 

 spicuous. The owners of the nest, however, keep a 

 close watch over the nest, and doves, in spite of their 

 reputed gentleness, are quite able to drive off most 

 adversaries. 



One reads much about the protective colouration of 

 birds' eggs, and many are doubtless coloured so as to 

 be inconspicuous in the nest or place where they are 

 laid. But it seems to me that the theory of protective 

 colouration is usually carried too far. This is a subject 

 to which I shall have occasion to again and again refer. 

 When there are eggs in the nest most birds keep near 

 it, and show themselves ready to fight any would-be 

 thieves. It is, I believe, upon this characteristic of the 

 owners of the nest, rather than the colouring of the 

 eggs, that the protection of these latter depends. Few 

 birds will dare to rob the nest of even a smaller bird 

 if the owner shows that he means fight. Under such 

 circumstances a great kite will fly ignominiously from 

 a pair of diminutive king-crows. An ounce of good 

 solid pugnacity is a more useful weapon in the struggle 

 for existence than many pounds of protective colouring. 



