THE WOOD-WEEN 27 



of the hollow, were placed fine fibres brought 

 from the roots of plants exposed in the river 

 bank. Then a still finer lining of hair, red and 

 white and black, left among the thorns by the 

 wandering cattle, was twisted into shape ; and, 

 as if to confuse the assumptions of our naturalists 

 who tell us that the willow-wren's downy couch 

 is never imitated by the wood-warbler, the 

 structure was completed with a soft lining of 

 feathers, pilfered from the disused nest of a 

 long-tailed tit, and from the neighbourhood of a 

 pheasant's nest in the copse. 



By the second week in May all was in readiness ; 

 and the first of seven pearl-white eggs, slightly 

 larger than those of the willow-wren, and 

 speckled with dark reddish purple, was deposited 

 in the hollow beneath the dome. Sometimes one, 

 sometimes the other, of the happy pair brooded 

 over the dainty treasures, but to their welfare 

 the hen was more closely attentive than the 

 cock. Her mate's chief delight lay in hunting 

 for food, and in visiting her while, with beady 

 eyes peeping from the open door of the nest, she 

 sat in quiet and proud possession of her well- 

 furnished home. He found for her the choicest 

 tit-bits flies fresh from their nymph-cases, and 

 unsoiled by rain or sun, and caterpillars, hanging 

 by their lines of spun silk from the leaves. 

 Often, after feeding her, he stayed to help M turn 



