STEALING THE MATERIALS. 61 



Goldsmith, '" their alacrity is often too great in 

 the beginning : they soon grow weary of bringing 

 the materials of their nest from distant places, 

 and they very easily perceive that sticks may be 

 provided nearer home ; with less honesty, indeed, 

 but some degree of alertness. Away they go, 

 therefore, to pilfer as fast as they can ; and when- 

 ever they see a nest unguarded, they take care to 

 rob it of the very choicest sticks of which it is 

 composed. But these thefts never go unpunished ; 

 and probably upon complaint being made, there 

 is a general punishment inflicted. I have seen 

 eight or ten rooks come upon such occasions, and 

 setting upon the new nest of the young couple, 

 all at once tear it in pieces in a moment." These 

 thievish propensities give rise to much of the 

 clamour heard in March among the rooks ; and 

 taught by experience, they are compelled to set 

 a guard over the nest while the mate fetcheswhat 

 may be required to complete the structure. The 

 frigate pelican is mentioned by Audubon as being 

 guilty of similar pilfering habits. 



From the sketch here presented, of the mate- 

 rials employed by birds in the construction of their 

 nests, it will be evident that a variety of different 



