1 3 o 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



spotted with red. In order to identify it more positively as 

 that of the chiff-chaff, which they suspected it was, they watched 

 for some time, and saw tiie bird, a little pale-brown thing, creep 

 up to it and enter it. 



I would particularly impress on my boy readers the necessity 

 of thoroughly identifying the nest and eggs which they find. 

 It is often impossible to tell accurately without seeing the old 

 bird, and as the value of a collection depends upon the 

 accuracy of its named specimens, no trouble should be spared 

 in ensuring thorough identification. This remark applies to 

 collections of every kind. " What is worth doing at all is worth 

 doing well." 



CHIFF-CHAFF. 



The keeper said, pointing to some red, hairy masses on a 

 bramble bush, " We call these robins' pincushions ; can you 

 tell me what causes them ? " 



" Oh yes," said Dick, " they are galls caused by a little grub 

 which afterwards turns into a fly." 



" They are very pretty things to be caused by a dirty little 

 grub," said Jimmy ; " and pray what causes this cuckoo-spit ? " 

 pointing to one of the little lumps of water foam which are so 

 common on plants and grasses in the summer. 



Dick said they were caused by the larvae of a fly like 



