RICHARD JEFFERIES AND BIRDS-NESTING 175 



were broken to pieces, as usually happens in cases 

 like these. 



One day I came upon three young urchins in 

 a high state of excitement over a clutch of eggs 

 that' they very carefully guarded ; they called 

 them " Flycatchers," and after a little persuasion 

 on my part they were induced to show them, 

 and on inspection I found them to be Green- 

 finches ! They were all blown in the usual 

 barbarous fashion, a hole being made at each 

 end usually, while wanting a pin, by a thorn 

 from the hedgerow. No matter what you say 

 to these young barbarians, you cannot cure them 

 of this mania for robbing birds, and they always 

 destroy the nests as well while thieving the eggs. 



Richard Jefferies, in one passage, argues in favour 

 of the boys, by asking whatever difference can 

 it make to the hosts of Blackbirds, Thrushes, and 

 Finches by just taking one or two nests ? If 

 this was all that really happens it would not be 

 so bad ; but in point of fact, small armies of these 

 boys "work" every hedgerow in the neighbour- 

 hood, and unless the nests are unusually well 

 concealed all are wantonly destroyed. 



