Behaviour of Birds 



and never even raised her head from her duty 

 when shells burst close by (Daily News 

 and Leader, 22.iv.i6). Another BLACKCAP 

 trilled its dainty song night after night, and, 

 although the guns were often fired, sang gaily 

 from his perch in one of the saplings that 

 masked one of the guns (Land and Water, 

 I4.ix.i6). A BLACKCAP'S nest was blown 

 sideways by shells, but the birds rebuilt 

 another nest within 10 feet of the old nest. 

 The three eggs, which formed the complement 

 of this second venture, were white as snow ; 

 but both cock and hen, which alternately 

 sat on them, never flinched when under shell- 

 fire {Bird Notes and News, vol. vii. p. i). 



While our guns thundered the overture to 

 the battle of Arras, a CHIFFCHAFF sang im- 

 patiently not far behind the battle line (Times, 



3-V.I7). 



HEDGE SPARROWS were very fond of build- 

 ing their nests in the broken wheels of derelict 

 waggons (Scotsman, i6.vi.i7). 



SWALLOWS flew around the heaps of ruins 

 that represented their former homes, and it 

 was some days before they became reassured 



116 ' 



