Birds of the Hedgerow 



through the densest undergrowth with mouse-like 

 agility. Presently it flies out, its beak full of moss, 

 which, however, seems in no way to hinder the flow 

 of rippling song. It crosses the road, alights in the 

 hedge, runs along and suddenly disappears. Soon 

 it flies out, but there is no moss in its beak, and, 

 on reaching the spot, we see a beautiful little domed 

 nest, made of leaves, moss and bents, with a per- 

 fectly round entrance hole near the top. Later on 

 it may be lined with feathers, and contain six or 

 more white eggs faintly speckled with red, but 

 we cannot be sure, for the male has a habit of 

 passing the time by building "cock's nests," and 

 so keeping himself out of mischief while the 

 female is sitting. These nests are never lined, 

 and apparently serve no useful purpose, except 

 that of distracting the attention from the real 

 nest. Members of the Tit family may often be 

 found cosily quartered in them, but only once 

 have I seen a " cock's nest " occupied at night by 

 its rightful owner. 



A little further on we stop before an ivy-covered 

 tree. A pair of Chaffinches are flitting restlessly 

 about. Spink ! spink ! Why 'will we not move 

 on ? Spink ! spink ! We have already noticed 

 the Chaffinch as one of the most accomplished 

 architects, and his nest might escape detection 

 more often than it does, if the parent birds would 

 forego the habit of playing hide and seek with 

 the passer-by, and not cry out as soon as he 



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