BIRDS' EGGS 63 



cavity. Owls' eggs are inclined to be spherical. 

 You would expect to see a big round-headed, 

 round-eyed creature come out of such an egg. 



The passenger pigeon nests before danger 

 from frost is passed; but as it lays but two 

 eggs, probably in two successive days, the risks 

 from this source are not great; though occasion- 

 ally a heavy April snowstorm breaks them up. 



Which is the earliest song-bird's egg? One 

 cannot be quite so certain here, as he can as to 

 which the first wild-flower is, for instance ; but 

 I would take my chances on finding that of the 

 phoebe-bird first, and finding it before the close 

 of April, unless the season is very backward. 

 The present season (1883), a pair built their 

 nest under the eaves of my house, and depos- 

 ited their eggs, the last days of the month. 

 Some English sparrows that had been hanging 

 around, and doubtless watching the phoebes, 

 threw the eggs out and took possession of the 

 nest. How shrewd and quick to take the hint 

 these little feathered John Bulls are. With a 

 handful of rattling pebble- stones I told this 

 couple very plainly that they were not welcome 

 visitors to my premises. They fled precipi- 

 tately. The next morning they appeared again, 

 but were much shyer. Another discharge of 

 pebbles, and they were off as if bound for the 

 protection of the British flag, and did not 

 return. I notice wherever I go that these birds 

 have got a suspicion in their heads that public 

 opinion has changed with regard to them, and 

 that they are no longer M-anted. 



