BIRDS' NESTS. 193 



almost the very day that the old inhabitants 

 left it, and took less time probably in finish- 

 ing their house, because they were able to use 

 the fresh materials which the nuthatches had 

 collected. 



The eggs were carefully put away in the 

 cabinet, and a note was added to the index, 

 stating that they were both taken from the 

 same nest, added to which was the date of the 

 very day on which each prize was made. 



By this time a thrush, which had built her 

 nest in the fork of a laurel, quite close to the 

 garden gate, had hatched her eggs, and was 

 busily employed in rearing her brood. Not- 

 withstanding the frequent goings in and out 

 of visitors, she never appeared frightened, and 

 would go on with her feeding, even when 

 Henry stood close by watching her. At last 

 he thought of feeding her while she sat brood- 

 ing over her young, and to his great delight 

 found that she cheerfully accepted his hospi- 

 tality, snapping eagerly from a forked stick 



