PROTECTIVE NEST-BUILDIXG 133 



as I could see, they fetched nothing else at all 

 but the long blossoms of the sycamore and the 

 long sprays of the forget-me-not. A more per- 

 fect piece of protective mimicry 'could hardly be 

 imagined. Looking up from below, it is scarcely 

 possible to make it out from the tree and sky. 

 The window, of course, they did not reckon upon, 

 as it is never opened ; the top is covered with a 

 blind, and the lower part with flowers in pots. I 

 am afraid though that the passage to and fro of 

 lights at night (if they happen to open their little 

 eyes) will amaze them very much ; and O, when 

 the wind blows, how that cradle will rock ! The 

 babies are certain to fall out unless the eggs do it 

 first. The cradle is firm enough, and seems part 

 of the tree. It was so pretty to see them pop out 

 of the nest and flutter down upon the forget-me- 

 nots with a childish cry of exultation, as if they 

 had found them afresh each time. One waited 

 on the rail and looked, unless the worker (the 

 male, I suppose) found it very difficult to find 

 the right piece or get it off, and then it joined 

 him but did not help. Perhaps hers was the 

 little head I saw moving so rapidly within the 

 nest, weaving it in and out ; or does the male 

 both fetch and build? Then they danced and 

 sang over it so ! Sometimes they reminded 

 me, I am. sorry to say : of. ballet-girls dancing 



