The Wit of the Wild 



r 



hair- or wool-lined nests before the proper 

 time. 



Eggs and young birds form a large item 

 upon the bill of fare of many animals in the 

 early half of the year. Hardly any carnivore 

 will refuse to rob a bird's nest, and many dili- 

 gently search for them. I was passing through 

 a thicket the other day with my terrier at my 

 heels when a field sparrow jumped away from 

 my feet in a manner indicating that she had 

 just left her nest. While I was searching about 

 for it I glanced at my dog and saw the little 

 rascal who is by no means thievish with his 

 nose in the poor sparrow's snug home in a low 

 bush, licking up the remains of the last egg. 



This momentary return to primitive ways 

 on Waggles's part reminded me that in the Arc- 

 tic regions the foxes grow fat in spring after 

 their winter famine by feasting upon the eggs 

 and young of the marsh-breeding water-fowl, 

 and nearer home the foxes doubtless help to 

 decimate our nesting game-birds. 



The mink, badger, skunk, muskrat and wood- 

 rat are all robbers of ground-built nests, and 

 ^ 54 ^ 



