14 RURAL BIRD LIFE, 



and others of the Crow family find safety under this 

 pecuUar instinct, and woe betide the predaceous animal 

 that is caught lurking in the neighbourhood of their 

 abode. The Titmice are also included, and will, by 

 hissing, biting, and other pugnacious actions, endeavour 

 to repel the intruder from their eggs or young. 



Deceptive motions. — The last division on which my 

 remarks will bear is of frequent occurrence amongst 

 the feathered tribes. Prominent amongst its followers is 

 the Lark. Note how deceptively she repairs to her nest, 

 by darting suddenly downwards into the herbage at 

 some distance from it, proceeding the remainder of the 

 way by running, thus baffling the searcher in discovering 

 her abode. What a roundabout way the Winchat repairs 

 to her nest, occasionally darting downwards into the 

 thick grass. Surely that is the situation of the nest. 

 But no ! up flies the little bird, and, perched on some 

 tall stem of herbage, looks warily around, and again 

 silently alights in the friendly cover. ' Found at last ! ' 

 is our exclamation, and we rush hastily to the spot, but 

 are somewhat crestfallen to find no nest and even no 

 bird. How is this t Her protective instinct has been 

 at work. Influenced by its unerring power, she has 

 used these deceptive motions in regaining her nest, 

 which is doubtless many yards away from the place of 

 her final descent into the friendly cover. Then, again, 

 the Rails manifest various deceptive motions in retiring 

 from and regaining their nests. Who, also, has not 

 observed wonderful instances of this protective power in 

 the manner the Starling approaches her abode ? In 

 places where these birds are left unmolested no such 

 power appears, but when the birds are far from the busy 

 hum of cities, how warily they approach, and will not 

 betray their nesting-hole even if thereby prevented from 



