INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS 



Surrey Hills. My chord of generosity was somehow struck, 

 so I placed a piece of basalt in the nest, in order that the 

 birds would be saved more serious distress later on. Next 

 week the nest was gone, and so would have been the eggs 

 but for the stone. This does not cast a reflection on the 

 Surrey Hills boys, for they are not below the average in 

 moral principles. 



On a previous occasion I referred to the sensitiveness of 

 this bird. Its hardihood is now the chief feature, for no 

 less than seven times was a nest in a young elm enclosed 

 within a guard destroyed, this being done to save restless 

 boys from making investigations and damage to the struc- 

 tural beauty of the tree. Each time the nest was bodily 

 taken away, leaving only a remnant, the birds would persist 

 in rebuilding it within the same fork, till the seventh part 

 edifice was destroyed, and I have no doubt they then sought 

 pastures new, for no further attempt to build was made in 

 that tree. 



Nest. — Similar to preceding species. Several nests may 

 be placed in orchards. 



Eggs. — Similar to preceding species, though varying 

 greatly. Obsolete marks of greyish-brown appear as if 

 beneath the surface. 



