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CHAPTER XXVIIL 



FEA THERED BRANCH-BUILDERS. 



The Rook and its nesting-place— Materials and structure of the nesi— Some 

 habits of the Rook— The Crow— Difference between the nest of the Rook 

 and the Crow— The Heron and its mode of nidification— The Heronry at 

 Walton Hall — Rustic ideas respecting the Heron's nest — The Chaffinch — 

 Locality and structure of its beautiful nest— Mode of obtaining materials— 

 The Goldfinch and its home — Distinction between the nests of the Gold- 

 finch and Chaffinch— The Bullfinch — Locality and form of its nest— Vari- 

 ability of Structure — The Golden Oriole and its beautiful nest — Mode of 

 catching the Bird— The Yellow-breasted Chat and its odd ways— Its 

 courage and affection for its nest and young — Structure of its nest — The 

 Ringdove and its curious nest — The Mocking Bird— The Water-hen 

 and its nesting — Its habit of covering the eggs. 



We pass now to the many birds which build their nests on 

 branches of trees or shrubs, and which may therefrom be 

 termed Aerial Builders. A vast proportion of the feathered 

 tribes select branches as a site for their habitation, so that only 

 the remarkable examples will be mentioned. 



Perhaps the most conspicuous of all ordinary branch-nests 

 are those which are made by the Rooks and the Crows. 



Every one has seen the nests of the former of these two 

 birds. They are large, dark, and are placed upon the topmost 

 boughs of the tree, so that they can be seen at a considerable 

 distance. Their position is evidently intended as a safeguard 

 against the attacks of various enemies, among which the bird- 

 nesting boy is pre-eminently the most dangerous. Scarcely 

 would the boughs endure the weight of a cat or monkey, and 

 so slender are they in many cases, that the spectator wonders 

 how they can support the nest with its living contents of a 

 parent and three or four young. 



