22 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



eyes of enemies. It returns to its old nest year 



after year if left unmolested. Another bird of the 



woods, though, alas ! very locally distributed now, 



Hobby is the Hobby. It is a summer visitor to this 



breed*, 2 4 th ^^j.^ an j a ] mos t invariably selects the deserted 



nest of a Carrion Crow in which to deposit its 

 eggs. Here and there, in highly favoured woods, 



woodcocks the timid Woodcock breeds, making its slight nest 

 ! amO ng the withered bracken or in the drifts of 

 dead. leaves at the bottom of the tree trunks, in 

 which the hen-bird deposits her four handsome 

 eggs. The woods at eventide echo the harsh, 

 grating crow of the Pheasant ; and, in the fields 

 adjoining, the Partridges, now in pairs, hold their 

 carnival in the settling gloom. Higher up the 

 hills, amongst the birch and larch woods, the 

 Black Game engage in their curious courtship, and 

 ve the Siskins in the pine trees are preparing for their 



25 th March, broods. Their tiny nests are extremely difficult 

 to find, and bear a somewhat close resemblance 

 to the home of the Lesser Redpole, though not 

 quite so neatly finished. The five eggs are 

 bluish-green, spotted with dark-brown and violet- 

 gray. 



As the spring days get longer and warmer, 

 bird after bird begins domestic duties, each 

 species contriving to hatch its young at the 

 time when the food on which they are reared 

 is most abundant. Now we see the Swallows 



May.' ng s and the Martins busy at their old nests, or 

 building new ones. Bit by bit they attach their 



