INTRODUCTORY 17 



built and forsaken, and that it was a well known thing 

 that young birds only built a proper nest after several 

 experiments. I doubt if old and experienced birds 

 ever show the inexperienced ; I think it is a matter of 

 experience solely. It is a belief in this village that 

 Wrens build several nests a year which they do not 

 inhabit, and one of my sons says he has proved that 

 is so." Another instance coming very rececitly within 

 my own experience may also be given. During the 

 past spring (1900) a pair of Song Thrushes took up 

 their quarters in my garden for nesting purposes, and 

 I had every opportunity of observing the preliminary 

 operations of the female bird which from a minute 

 examination within a few feet, aided by a field-glass, 

 had every appearance of being a bird of the previous 

 year, the buff spots on the wing coverts being very 

 large and bright. No less than three nests were 

 commenced in as many different sites (laurel bushes) 

 and abandoned after a mere heap of dry grass had 

 been collected, which I may say the hen bird was 

 most assiduous in gathering, especially in early morn- 

 ing and again at evening. A pair of older Thrushes 

 were also nesting in the same garden, and in their 

 case the nest was begun and finished without any 

 abortive attempts. The young bird eventually made 

 an indifferent nest with scarcely any mud or decayed 

 wood for lining, in which she laid three eggs which for 

 some reason unknown to me both birds deserted. 

 Again, there is more local variation in avine architec- 



B 



