OUR PETS. 137 



by the constant passing and rej assing of all, and the fre- 

 quent pointing her out to friends. This last action, how- 

 ever, I must protest against ; the less a nest when known 

 is looked at the better ; if it can be seen from a little dis- 

 tance, or by a glance in passing, a quiet look now and 

 then will do no harm ; but all putting aside the branches, 

 or touching the nest, must be carefully avoided. It was 

 the saying of one who knew well the habits and loved the 

 acquaintanceship of his birds, that " a nest, like a secret, 

 should be known only to one person." So, if you wish to 

 have your pets confiding and secure, don't shew your nests, 

 don't allow any hunting for them to go on, and never 

 allow any one to touch the eggs. There is not only the 

 risk of making the bird forsake if you do, but there is 

 also the danger of letting the nest be seen by the magpies. 

 These cunning egg-fanciers are ever on the alert, and seem 

 to guess that a nest is concealed in any bush to which 

 frequent visits are paid, and the branches thereby displaced. 

 When the birds are hatched, there is not the same likeli- 

 hood that your looking at the nest will cause the parent 

 bird to leave them ; but let no hand be put into it, for it 

 frequently happens that the young birds spring out of the 

 nest when thns frightened, before they are fully fledged, 

 and thus fall a prey to cats, or die of cold. When I see 

 the reckless way a discovered nest is too often treated — 

 shewn to every one — boys allowed to count the eggs — 

 children lifted up to peep into it, holdhig back the branches 

 all the time, I wonder not at the disappearance and the 

 wildness of the small birds in that place. How differently 



