BIRDS' NESTS. 177 



The old birds know that Joe has found out 

 their hiding-place ; but they don't mind him 

 a bit, for they carry in grubs and insects to 

 their young, while he is standing close by. 

 He says he should not have found it if he 

 had not seen the old bird fly in, carrying a 

 feather in its mouth. Joe showed me another 

 nest besides this ; he says he thinks it is a 

 nightingale's nest." 



" In what sort of a place is it built ? " asked 

 Mr. Miller, " and what is it made of? " 



" Oh, it is built of scarcely anything but 

 dry oak leaves, and seems so loose that I 

 don't know how it stays together ; and it is 

 in a thick hedge, a very little way from the 

 ground. There are no eggs in it yet, but 

 when there are, Joe says I may haye one of 

 them. May I, papa ? " 



" Judging from your description, I suppose 

 the nest must be a nightingale's. The eggs, 

 however, will tell you to a certainty, as they 

 are unlike those of any other English bird. 



I 



