YOUNG PARTRIDGES 



DANGERS OF THE GROUND 



EVEN in midsummer weather, perhaps chiefly in midsummer 

 weather, the solid earth is one of the most dangerous of 

 places for birds' nests, though it is quite the best place for 

 concealment. Probably the safest nests are the highest and 

 most conspicuous, but in all cases a risk is run. The rooks' 

 nests are thrown down by a gusty wind. In one case such a 

 fallen nest was found to have been twice used by other birds 

 than the maker. A great tit and a starling had both 

 hatched broods in its interstices, and both for the first time 

 faced a danger quite new to them. The conspicuous nest 

 of the colony runs also risks from neighbours. Just as 

 penguins spend a great part of their time in robbing one 

 another of stones, the rooks will from time to time, though 

 not often, steal from any unlucky neighbour who for some 

 reason has not pleased the flock. There is also another 

 little known danger. When at all pressed for food squirrels 

 will climb to the nests and carry away young birds. But 

 when all is known the rook in the colony is as safe as he 

 could well wish to be. Compared with such a bird as a 

 partridge his state of security is complete. For the ground 

 bird is never safe till the young can fly almost as well as 

 their parents. When the country naturalist sees descend 



