Behaviour of Birds 
and never even raised her head from her duty 
when shells burst close by (Daily News 
and Leader, 22.iv.16). Another BLACKCAP 
trilled its dainty song night after night, and, 
although the guns were often fired, sang gaily 
from his perch in one of the saplings that 
masked one of the guns (Land and Waiter, 
14.ix.16). A BLacKkcap’s nest was blown 
sideways by shells, but the birds rebuilt 
another nest within 10 feet of the old nest. 
The three eggs, which formed the complement 
of this second venture, were white as snow; 
but both cock and hen, which alternately 
sat on them, never flinched when under shell- 
fire (Bird Notes and News, vol. vii. p. I). 
While our guns thundered the overture to 
the battle of Arras, a CHIFFCHAFF sang im- 
patiently not far behind the battle line (Times, 
BiuMwrg)). 
HEDGE SPARROWS were very fond of build- 
ing their nests in the broken wheels of derelict 
waggons (Scotsman, 16.v1.17). 
SWALLOWS flew around the heaps of ruins 
that represented their former homes, and it 
was some days before they became reassured 
116 
