: 



2 FABKE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



As I look back so many years back ! I can see myself 

 as a tiny boy, extremely proud of my first braces and of 

 my attempts to learn the alphabet. And very well I re- 

 member the delight of finding my first bird's nest and gather- 

 ing my first mushroom. 



One day I was climbing a hill. At the top of it was a row 

 of trees that had long interested me very much. From the 

 little window at home I could see them against the sky, 

 tossing before the wind or writhing madly in the snow, and I 

 wished to have a closer view of them. It was a long climb 

 ever so long ; and my legs were very short. I clambered up 

 slowly and tediously, for the grassy slope was as steep as a 

 roof. 



Suddenly, at my feet, a lovely bird flew out from its hiding- 

 place under a big stone. In a moment I had found the nest, 

 which was made of hair and fine straw, and had six eggs laid 

 side by side in it. The eggs were a magnificent azure blue, 

 very bright. This was the first nest I ever found, the first 

 of the many joys which the birds were to bring me. Over- 

 powered with pleasure, I lay down on the grass and stared 

 at it. 



Meanwhile the mother-bird was flying about uneasily 

 from stone to stone, crying ' Tack ! Tack / ' in a voice of the 

 greatest anxiety. I was too small to understand what she 

 was suffering. I made a plan worthy of a little beast of prey. 

 I would carry away just one of the pretty blue eggs as a 

 trophy, and then, in a fortnight, I would come back and take 

 the tiny birds before they could fly away. Fortunately, as I 

 walked carefully home, carrying my blue egg on a bed of 

 moss, I met the priest. 



4 Ah ! ' said he. ' A Saxicola's egg ! Where did you 

 get it ? ' 



I told him the whole story. 4 1 shall go back for the 

 others,' I said, ' when the young birds have got their quill- 

 feathers.' 



4 Oh, but you mustn't do that ! ' cried the priest. ' You 



