SOME GARDEN BIRDS 



first few eggs laid are invariably covered up 

 with a nice quilt of wool, so that one cannot 

 at first glance see how many there are. The 

 old bird begins to sit before the clutch is com- 

 plete, when the fourth or fifth egg is laid, 

 another three or four being added afterwards, 

 seven to nine being the complete set. The 

 result is that one or two of the little birds are 

 rather behind the rest of the family in hatching, 

 and there is often, as in a large family of young 

 pigs, a ' harkner ' or little one. The parent 

 great tit is a bold little bird; she believes in 

 trying to bluff her foes, so if disturbed when 

 sitting makes a hissing noise and bounces 

 up and down in her hole. The first time 

 my friend in the pump did it she fairly 

 startled me, and I can well believe that the 

 hissing and noise would frighten away any 

 intruding mouse, starling, or other bird or 

 beast that might try and interfere. Starlings 

 are a great nuisance to the rest of the birds 

 that make their nests in holes, for they are 

 quite without conscience, and if the entrance 

 to a hole is big enough for them to get 

 inside, will not hesitate to bundle out the 

 occupiers' eggs and take possession of the 

 place. Before now I have found the eggs of 



207 



