378 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



nest, are the builders influenced in their choice of materials 

 by the objects in the immediate neighbourhood of the site 

 selected ? In other words, it would seem that such birds 

 as have developed the instinct of nest-building-, even after 

 this elementary fashion, when dominated by parental 

 desire, display more or less individual taste in the matter 

 of the materials to be used. But, let it be remembered. 





"^m 





\i 



Fjg. 4. 



-Nest of Ringed Plover : composed of broken shells. 

 (Photographed by C. W. Colthrup ) 



this "■choice" is blind, that is to say, it is not exercised 

 as a result of conscious reasoning as to consequences, as 

 to the need, or otherwise, of defeating its enemies by 

 cunningly blending its nursery with the general environ- 

 ment. 



If the foregoing inferences are correct, we have here 

 the key to the lines along which the development of more 

 elaborate nests, such as those of Passerine birds, has pro- 



