372 



A BIRD-LOVER 



Once, while on a journey to the 

 Northern Ocean, I travelled the whole 

 length of Denmark. Moor, bog and 

 sandhills cover great stretches of land. 

 Coarse heath grows over the sandhills. 

 Poverty-stricken huts are scattered here 

 and there in these districts, the tenants 

 of which live by turf cutting. There is 

 neither wood nor coal, so that the dried 

 bog furnishes the sole fuel. A small 

 spotted cow is usually seen tethered 

 with a long rope near the cottage. This 

 animal provides milk for the household. 

 In front of the dwelling, at a distance 

 of about fifteen paces, a pole, from 13 

 to 20 feet in height, is set up, at the 

 top of which is fastened a nest-box for 

 birds, and this is usually inhabited by 

 Starlings. 



It was a pleasant sight, towards evening, that of the 

 weary turf-cutter, sitting on the little bench before his 

 cottage, smoking his pipe, bending down to talk to his 

 child, and then, with heartfelt pleasure, setting himself 

 to watch the pair of Starlings chattering on the nest-box, 

 and enjoying life generally. In many districts nest- 

 boxes are fixed on fruit trees in gardens and in every 

 other suitable place, and in these dwell all the best and 

 most industrious workers Tits, Flycatchers, Redstarts 

 and others. 



There is a proverb which may be translated as follows : 

 " Take nest and eggs from brooding bird no fruit is 

 found, no song is heard." Also in the Bible we read : 



