160 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



decayed apple-tree for this purpose. The entrance 

 being too narrow for the admission of the hand, and 

 the tree being hollow and decayed at the bottom, 

 the nest was got at by thrusting the arm upwards. 

 The nest was composed of moss, hair, dried roots, 

 &c., and was apparently the old nest of another 

 bird. It did not contain any eggs, and was there- 

 fore returned by thrusting it up inside the tree. 

 On passing by the same tree a short time subse- 

 quently, attention was arrested by one of the birds 

 being observed to fly out of the hole. Upon again 

 withdrawing the nest, it was found to contain five 

 most beautiful glossy eggs, the shells of which were 

 perfectly white, and so transparent that the yolks 

 shone through, giving them a delicate pink colour. 

 The nest was again replaced, and visited during the 

 ensuing week. It was again examined, and found 

 to contain six more eggs ! These were taken away, 

 and the nest was replaced. In the following week 

 the same examination was repeated, and four more 

 eggs were discovered. In ten days time the nest 

 was again withdrawn, for the fifth time, and now 

 contained seven eggs. Thus, altogether, within a 

 month this bird produced no less than twenty-two 

 eggs! 



