A BEAUTIFUL CRADLE 



herbage and vegetable down, gathered from the neighbouring 

 plants. 



If during the building operations any of the fastenings 

 and ties seem to be weak or likely to come loose, others are 

 added, and in this way it comes about that some nests are as 

 much as ten inches high. In all cases they are so deep that 

 when the sedges sway about in a high wind there is not the 

 slightest danger of eggs or young ones falling out. 



The edge of the nest is strengthened with coarse grasses 

 woven and interwoven like the top of a basket ; so you see 

 the reed thrush leaves nothing undone to provide for its 

 offspring a cradle which is both strong and springy; and 

 warm too, even though it hangs over the open water of a 

 pond or marsh. 



Our native Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus) builds 

 its nest in a similar manner, but it is altogether a smaller 

 and lighter structure than that of the reed thrush just 

 described, though by no means less beautiful. Sometimes 

 the most extraordinary skill is shown in the way the nest 

 is poised. I have seen some which were attached at one side 

 to a twig of a shrub which overhung the river, and on the 

 other to a reed growing in quite a different direction ; others 

 I have found were suspended like an oriole's nest. 1 The 

 cuckoo frequently deposits an egg in the nest of this species. 



The Coot (Fulica atra) sometimes called the "Bald 

 Coot * on account of the horny oval white patch on the 

 forehead, which shows up in strong contrast with the black 

 plumage is quite a common bird in many parts of Britain. 

 Its nest is a very strong and compact structure, and of great 

 bulk, hundreds of reeds, sedges, rushes, etc., being used in 

 its construction. Its foundation is often below the surface 

 of the water; yet so solid does the coot contrive to make 



1 H. C. 

 ll 



