4O Summer Studies of Birds and Books CHAP. 



Here, however, was a Teal's nest, hidden in a clump 

 of alpine roses, through which you looked into a 

 warm cradle of the duck's own feathers, containing 

 seven beautiful eggs. A few yards off was a tiny 

 pool, in which perhaps the young Teals were to have 

 their first lesson in swimming. 



Other interesting nests are to be found by those 

 who, like my friend Mr. Playne, are able to climb in 

 search of them, among the steep slopes and rocks 

 which lead from the alp to the Joch pass, and in a 

 stony hollow called the Schafthal lying between 

 that well-known path and the craggy fortress of 

 the Schafberg. On these steep slopes the Alpine 

 Accentor is always to be found ; you may catch his 

 sweet warble as you walk up towards the Joch, or 

 see him perched after his wont on the edge of some 

 little precipice. He will leave this, and flutter about 

 for a moment singing, while you watch ; or it may be 

 that you will see a pair courting and pursuing each 

 other, for at this height they are late in breeding. 

 The bird may easily enough be missed in one of 

 those rapid walks that Englishmen think necessary 

 in the Alps ; so too may that exquisite Narcissus of 

 purest white which I found on the rocks while 

 searching for the nest. But one clear leisurely June 

 morning will not fail to reveal both bird and flower. 



I have a strong conviction that this Alpine 

 Accentor, the nearest and almost the only European 



