46 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



nature. I have heard heartless birds-nesters put the 

 argument that it cannot possibly matter taking birds' 

 eggs, for the birds have ho feelings, and no misery 

 can be caused. Against this I have seen one or two 

 little incidents which go to prove that birds are very 

 sensitive, and have feelings akin to ours. I have 

 found a redstart dead in its nest a few hours after the 

 eggs were taken ; I have also found a swallow dead 

 in its nest ; and I have known a carrion crow refuse 

 to eat after its mate had been shot ; it simply flew 

 from tree to tree and called repeatedly, and at last 

 moped and died. Then on one or two occasions I 

 have been almost attacked by small birds when 

 approaching too near to their young. There are 

 other incidents I could relate, yet I think these are 

 proof that birds love their eggs and young with a love 

 which is almost human. 



We found a great number of other nests on this 

 suburban estate, including those of the great tit, 

 wren, whitethroat, starling, tree-creeper, chaffinch, 

 hedge-sparrow, partridge this latter contained 

 fifteen eggs. The linnet nested on the boundaries, 

 and often we heard his song as he sat on the yellow 

 gorse. There were two rookeries, one near the 

 house, and the other by the side of one of the smaller 

 lakes. While hiding underneath one of the trees 

 containing several nests, and watching the little grebe, 

 I heard a slight commotion above me ; looking up, I 



