ii6 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



petals are knocked down. When the fight is finished 

 we may see a pretty little love scene. The male 

 keeps near the hen and utters his undulating song, 

 his love-talk, in varying pitches. Sometimes he 

 seems so exhilarated that he cannot repeat his song 

 in a pitch high enough to satisfy his feelings. He 

 will occasionally break off in his song to pick up an 

 insect. Then, however, comes the prettiest scene of 

 all. He offers this to the little bird he has wooed as 

 a love-gift, and she tenderly accepts it, while the other 

 utters his song in the fullest pitch possible. 



Within a few days they will commence nest-build- 

 ing, and this is always a pleasing sight. The position 

 is first chosen, then the hen collects a few grasses and 

 commences. The male, who is singing in the tree 

 above, will now help. He brings the grasses and 

 gives them to his little wife. This goes on for a day 

 or two, and when the home is finished, and the eggs 

 are laid, the delight of the male is beyond all bounds. 

 He sings the whole day through for very joy. Let 

 us now leave this happy scene and again go back to 

 the fields. 



Partridges are calling, and larks, pipits, and wrens 

 are singing. A few rooks lazily fly from field to field, 

 and lapwings are playing over the meadows. Let us 

 hide in a hedgerow, for it is these birds which we 

 wish to watch. It is the end of March, and now the 

 birds named should be mating. A few settle about 



