BIRDS' NESTS, 101 



it is built, and suspend it in hi^fnuseum as a 

 specimen of the utmost skill which any British 

 bird can display. Who could believe that 

 from seven to twelve or more living, flying, 

 chirping birds were all reared within this 

 hollow ball ? But that they were so he may 

 even yet, if he pleases, satisfy himself by 

 watching the whole brood, with their parents, 

 flying about the hedges in the neighbourhood. 

 One would fancy that, having been so long 

 packed together in their snug little chamber, 

 they could not bear the idea of separating ; 

 for, during the whole of the remainder of the 

 season, and, indeed, until pairing time returns, 

 the whole family continue to hunt together in 

 familiar intercourse. One cannot help won- 

 dering, too, what the whole of the family did 

 with their long tails while they all remained 

 shut up at home. Nor is the wonder dimi- 

 nished by an examination of the inside of 

 the nest, for the cavity is all but filled with 

 the softest and warmest of feathers. The 



