EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 147 



a tree twelve or thirteen feet from the water, and twenty 

 feet from the bank. This nest was of ordinary shape and 

 size, its material being of the same kind as others, and 

 resting on a forked branch. When the bird was disturbed, 

 she dived down into the water to make her escape ; and in 

 spite of wind, weather, and the awkward position she had 

 selected, she reared her young in safety. Then, again, the 

 Thrush, whose nest is generally found in hedges, amongst 

 rocks and old stone walls, has been found building on the 

 ground above a hundred yards away from any tree or 

 shrub. 



In the following descriptions we have again instructed 

 the reader where to look for the nests, each in their usual 

 localities ; but if he cannot find the nests, and the birds 

 are seen, he must not be discouraged, as he may be looking 

 close to a nest and yet not be able to find it, the correspon- 

 dence in appearance of the material with its surroundings 

 being so close that it is very difficult even for a practised 

 eye to distinguish them at times. Many nests are found 

 through the alarm of the parent birds some by their cry 

 and others by their flight and gesture. The Golden Plover 

 and Grouse feign lameness, and will make every effort to 

 get the stranger or intruder to pursue them in their desire 

 to decoy him from the whereabouts of their nests. Many 

 people, when nest-hunting (as when shooting, &c.), keep 

 their eyes fixed too much on one particular point of the 

 horizon, instead of sweeping from one point to another, 

 describing a kind of crescent with the eye. The country 

 youth is generally an adept at finding birds' nests, his 

 eyes being trained to the variation of colour and scene. 

 The gamekeeper's son is very often the individual to get 

 hold of for a collection, as he very frequently makes it a 



