20 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



nest is generally made close to the water's edge, 

 under a stone, or beneath the shelter of a tuft 

 of fern or mass of bramble. Year after year the 

 old birds return to a favourite nesting-place, and 

 when their young brood, is out there are few 

 more charming sights than that presented by the 

 parents' anxious and incessant care for their help- 

 less little ones. A rookery in early spring is an 

 interesting place to visit. From the gray dawn 

 s begin until the dusk of evening the Rooks are busy 



birlding, ist 



Ss c hi ; d building their nests in the tall trees. Nothing 

 yo^oS can be done in a rookery without noisy con- 

 AprL l8th> sultation, and during the whole day an incessant 

 chorus of cries is kept up. Many birds are simply 

 repairing their old nests ; others, not so fortunate, 

 are building entirely new ones. Rooks are flying 

 to and from the adjoining fields with roots and 

 turf; others may be seen breaking twigs from the 

 trees. Towards the middle of March the eggs 

 are laid, but the busy scene loses none of its 

 animation. All is bustle and life until the young 

 are safely reared, and able to follow their parents 

 to the pastures. 



The woods are also made lively with birds. 

 In the quiet recesses where man seldom treads, 

 the shy Jays and Magpies are busy bringing up 

 their families, using all their cunning to escape the 

 vigilant gamekeepers. The latter bird is the first 

 to breed, building its large nest high up in the 

 branches of some forest giant, and often returning 

 year by year to the old abode, patching it up, and 



