BIRD ADVENTURERS 219 



to make their nests on the ground. They did 

 not stay long, for the eggs were soon hatched, 

 and the young fledged very quickly ; and then 

 these useful and beautiful visitors all went off, 

 and have never nested there since, for it is a 

 peculiarity of these birds that they are always 

 changing their nesting-places, although they 

 keep to India as their winter home. In this, 

 of course, they are different from most birds, 

 who cling to their nesting-place before every- 

 thing ; but perhaps such hordes of greedy 

 birds, all needing insect food for their young, 

 would not find enough in the same district 

 two years running. 



But the greatest gipsy of the bird world is 

 that lovely creature known as the waxwing ; 

 this is also one of the rare visitors to our 

 country, but when it does come it is seen in 

 far greater numbers than the rosy pastor, 

 which only comes to us in ones and twos. 

 Although it has not such a very striking plum- 

 age as that bird, it is very different in shape 

 and plumage from any other bird we have, 

 and if you come across any and see them at 

 rest you cannot very well mistake them for 

 any other bird here. On the wing, however, 



