Protecting Nests and Sitting Birds. 7 



from her tracks before foxes commence to prowl. 

 Again, if the bird herself Is wet, the heat of her 

 body causes steam to evaporate, and this carries 

 scent with It to be diffused over a wide area on the 

 nlofht air. Lots of nests have been known to 

 •disappear on occasions such as described, and it 

 Is certain that in the main the foxes discovered 

 them by simply following the trail of the bird back 

 to her eggs after having been off late at feed. This 

 is pretty plain proof that a partridge Is not devoid 

 of scent w^hile engaged In incubating, for both 

 partridge and pheasant nests are destroyed in the 

 manner stated. The birds cannot be prevented 

 leaving the nest when they like, but a little extra 

 care may well be taken to protect them when It Is 

 known that a trail w^hlch will guide foxes to the 

 nest has been left late In the evening. 



The liability of a nest just about to hatch to be 

 destroyed is entirely attributable to the rupture of 

 the shells ; directly this happens a powerful and 

 not altogether agreeable odour Is apparent even to 

 human nostrils placed in close proximity to the 

 nest, and how much more strongly this must 

 appeal to those of a fox ! This odour increases 

 in strength every moment till the brood runs, for 

 the inner membrane of the shell and all matter 

 attached thereto commences to decay, so the 



