974 



THE NATURE BOOK 



NEST OF BLACK-HEADED GULL, 

 Supposed abnormal clutch. 



bird which flies silently from a bush and 

 then cackles noisily after gaining a safe 

 distance ; the " chacking " of a White- 

 throat as you approach that thicket ; 

 the scolding of the Sedge Warbler as you 

 pass the tangled vegetation by the dyke 

 side — all these, and more, tell of hidden 

 homes and treasures dear to the hearts 

 of each possessor. In such a place there 

 are nests by the score — many Thrushes 

 with young, some witii full clutches, 

 others yet in the "wet" or 

 " ready " stages — to fall into 

 the vocabulary of our school- 

 days. Some of the Song 

 Thrushes have already left 

 their nest, and as you walk 

 along the commotion of the 

 old birds gives you the first 

 clue to their whereabouts ; 

 then you hear a chirp from 

 somewhere near, but although 

 you look long and carefully 

 no bird can be seen. When 

 almost tired of looking the 

 eye suddenly catches sight of 

 it, and you think how con- 

 spicuous it is, and how absurd 

 that it was not seen at once. 

 But in all probability it is not 

 in such a conspicuous position 

 as one might hastily conclude. 



Leave it for a mo- 

 ment or two, then 

 lotrace your steps, 

 and although the 

 bird has not shifted 

 its position in the 

 least, one has the 

 same difficulty in 

 locating it as before 

 — so much for pro- 

 tective resemblance, 

 which, in this case, 

 is well illustrated. 



Of Blackbirds' 

 nests there is no 

 lack, and although 

 the homely Hedge 

 Sparrows are quite 

 as plentiful, one does 

 not find so many, 

 for the majority are 

 cunningly hidden be- 

 hind some ivy-clad 

 stump ; but when 

 even one is seen, with 

 its dainty eggs of heaven's blue, one thinks 

 that this surel}' is the prettiest egg of all. 

 Somehow e\'eryone seems to have a warm 

 corner in his heart for our humble friend 

 " Shuffle-wing," or " Cuddy " as the school 

 lads call him. Soon from a bank side a 

 Robin is seen to fly out, and on going 

 to the spot the nest with its red-speckled 

 eggs is soon discovered. 



Perhaps we may stumble upon a young 

 prodigal who, not content with his 



NEST OF SONG THRUSH. 



