WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



to us with the rest of the migratory birds. 

 This tiny dainty sprite in bird's feathers wings 

 its way across the seas, with the rest of the 

 travellers, and when its song is heard in the 

 budding hedgerows, when we see it slipping in 

 and out of the bushes in the garden, we know 

 that the spring is really here, and that the 

 cuckoo, if not already arrived, will not be long 

 behind his fellow wanderer. 



Once it has reached home (for I call the spot 

 where a bird makes its nest and rears its young 

 its home, not the country where it winters) the 

 little warbler does not waste time, but finding 

 a mate as quickly as possible, or maybe joining 

 forces with its old mate, for it is astonishing 

 how many birds pair for life, begins the im- 

 portant business of the spring without delay. 

 With bits of grass and hay a domed nest is 

 built on the ground, beneath a tuft of grass in 

 the corner of the garden, by the orchard fence, 

 or anywhere else where there is shelter. It 

 is well and warmly lined with feathers, on 

 which soft quilt are presently laid seven or 

 even eight tiny white eggs spotted with pale 

 brown or pink specks. They are the most 

 lovely of small eggs, the shells being so trans- 

 parent and delicate that the yolks are seen 

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