BOOS AND EGQ-COLLECTINQ. 15 



hours a day, avoids the majority of dangers which threaten 

 less favoured birds, and only lays two eggs, in a position 

 very few other birds could adopt, yet one which secures her 

 little household the amount of safety necessary for the due 

 survival of the species. However, with her limited family, 

 dexterity on the wing, and enduring powers, she seems to 

 have no leisure time during the period her young require 

 feeding. As an opposite, take the House Sparrow, with 

 its five or six eggs, innumerable dangers, and easy access 

 to food, and it must be confessed these things are ordered 

 by a power of infinite wisdom. 



Curious Nesting-Places. The general situation and 

 locality in which each bird's nest is likely to be found 

 are mentioned in dealing with the bird under its separate 

 heading ; however, it may not be uninteresting to chronicle 

 a few of the most remarkable and well-authenticated de- 

 partures from accepted rules. 



I have myself found a Dipper's nest on the branch of a 

 tree twelve or thirteen feet from the water and twenty from 

 the bank. This nest was of ordinary shape and size, its mate- 

 rial being of the same kind as others, and securely fastened 

 amongst the prongs of the branch like a Missel Thrush's. 

 When the parent bird was disturbed she dived into the pool 

 below to make her escape (a habit invariably adopted 

 when nesting in an ordinary position). She reared her 

 young in safety, however, in spite of the awkward situa- 

 tion she had selected, and I have every reason to believe 

 got them off without mishap. I have also found a Thrush's 

 nest on the ground, precisely in the position a Lark selects. 



House Sparrows furnish many examples of curious 

 situations adopted for incubatory purposes. Not long 

 ago a pair of these birds built their nest, and success- 



