372 OUR RARER BIRDS 



selection, strive to the utmost of their ability, in many 

 different ways, to ensure the protection of their eggs and 

 young from danger until they reach maturity 



" Each its well-chosen site selects, where Nature 

 To its best concealment aids and favours it." 



Enemies numerous and deadly continually surround them 

 the prying Magpies and Jays, the subtle snakes and lizards, 

 the active field-mice, rats, and weasels, are all passionately 

 fond of eggs, and search incessantly for them. We have seen 

 that all the wiles birds display during the period of nidifica- 

 tion, all or nearly all the beauty in their nests, all or nearly 

 all the beauty in the colouring of their eggs and in much of 

 the old and young birds' plumage (in the former through the 

 subtle laws of Isolation and Sexual Selection), are subservient 

 to the conditions of reproduction, and may safely be attributed 

 to a one great Protective Cause ! 



In the present remarks on Birds' Nests and Eggs I have 

 taken nearly all my illustrative instances from the birds of our 

 own land. But were we to seek instances from other climes, 

 where bird-life under favourable conditions exists on a much 

 wider and more comprehensive basis, still more convincing 

 would our proofs become. As regards eggs, perhaps, but little 

 more could be said ; but as regards the plumage of birds and 

 their nests say in the tropical regions instances almost in- 

 numerable might be found showing how universal are those 

 laws which govern the nidification of birds. Sufficient, how- 

 ever, has been said to show what an important part Colour 

 plays in the nidification of birds, and that this portion of their 

 economy is governed most closely by Law. If I have suc- 

 ceeded in showing that Birds' Nests and Eggs are not the 

 unimportant objects they are so popularly believed to be, and 

 that a careful study of them, in conjunction with the birds 

 themselves, helps to elucidate some of the grandest questions 



