76 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



year for making observations enable me to offer some explana- 

 tion for this " low-nesting " habit. The early nests of 

 these species are often built before the leaf is out, and are 

 almost always three or four feet from the ground in coppice, 

 hedgerow or on a " stake and binder " fence, and it is a matter 

 of experience that very few of the eggs laid in them escape 

 the notice of the Jays (and perhaps other predatory birds or 

 mammals) that abound throughout the woodlands. As a 



blackbird's nest in a clump of grass. 



{Photographed by N. F. Ticehurst.) 



general rule the low-built nests are the later ones, built towards 

 the middle of May, they often contain no more than three eggs, 

 and are evidently second or even third attempts at breeding. 

 It is very suggestive, therefore, that the birds are becoming 

 aware that greater concealment is necessary, if they are to 

 nest successfully, and thus this low-building habit is gradu- 

 ally being acquired, and may in time become general. 



