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THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



singular; the bird never employs its bill, but 

 grasping a quantity of materials in its foot, 

 throws them backward to one common centre, 



thus clearing the surface of the ground for a 

 considerable distance, so completely, that scarcely 

 a leaf or a blade of grass is left. The heap being 

 thus accumulated, and time allowed for a sufficient 

 heat to be engendered, the eggs are deposited, not 

 side by side, as is ordinarily the case, but planted 

 at the distance of nine or twelve inches from each 



