12 BIRDS' NESTS. 



" It is so dark that I cannot see much ; but 

 I can make out some dry leaves." 



" Put your hand in, then, but carefully, lest 

 there should be eggs or young ones in the 

 nest." 



" But, papa, are you sure there are no snakes 

 nor toads in it ? " 



" No fear of them ; snakes in this country 

 do not climb trees, nor toads either. You will 

 find nothing there to hurt you. Mrs. Nuthatch 

 has taken care that there should not be even 

 a spider." 



" There is nothing here but leaves," said 

 Henry, who had at last ventured to put his 

 hand into the hole, and had pulled out a 

 handful. 



"Do not be too sure." said Mr. Miller ; 

 " recollect that the boys must have destroyed 

 the nest; perhaps there may be eggs buried 

 among them yet. But these are not leaves 

 that you have thrown down ; they are all scraps 

 of birch-bark. Poor birds ! what labour they 



