62 RIVERBY 



grass or a few dry leaves in the bottom of a long cav- 

 ity. Owls' eggs are inclined to be spherical. You 

 would expect to see a big, round-headed, round-eyed 

 creature come out of such an egg. 



The passenger pigeon nests before danger from 

 frost is passed ; but as it lays but two eggs, probably 

 in two successive days, the risks from this source 

 are not great, though occasionally a heavy April 

 snow-storm breaks them up. 



Which is the earliest song-bird's egg? One can- 

 not be quite so certain here, as he can as to which 

 the first wild flower is, for instance; but I would 

 take my chances on finding that of the phcebe-bird 

 first, and finding it before the close of April, unless 

 the season is very backward. The present season 

 (1883) a pair built their nest under the eaves of my 

 house, and deposited their eggs, the last days of the 

 month. Some English sparrows that had been hang- 

 ing around, and doubtless watching the phoebes, 

 threw the eggs out and took possession of the nest. 

 How shrewd and quick to take the hint these little 

 feathered John Bulls are ! With a handful of rat- 

 tling pebble-stones I told this couple very plainly 

 that they were not welcome visitors to my premises. 

 They fled precipitately. The next morning they 

 appeared again, but were much shyer. Another dis- 

 charge of pebbles, and they were off as if bound 

 for the protection of the British flag, and did not 

 return. I notice wherever I go that these birds 

 have got a suspicion in their heads that public opin- 

 ion has changed with regard to them, and that they 

 are no longer wanted. 



