and Their Homes 
they are placed near to the real nest in 
which the eggs are laid. 
Country boys always tell you that if 
you put your finger in a wren’s nest to 
feel if there are any eggs, the birds will 
desert it and go somewhere else. This 
is hardly true, for I find that if I do so 
carefully the birds do not mind.  Per- 
haps a boy, as a rule, is not careful 
enough, and treats the nest so roughly 
and carelessly as to damage it, and then 
of course the birds will desert it. 
And here I must complain very much 
of the senseless destruction of birds’ 
nests all over the country by boys and 
children generally. There may be some 
excuse for taking eggs if they are care- 
fully and properly kept, only keeping 
one or two of each kind; but taking 
them for the sake of destroying them, 
Oo nek) 
