WOOD-PIGEONS. 



11 



soon as the breeze comes would assuredly be dashed to 

 pieces ; but here the wind only touches the tops of the 

 poles, and causes them to sway gently with a rattling 

 noise, and the frail nest is not injured. When the pigeon 



or dove builds in the more exposed hedgerows the nest is 

 stronger, and more twigs seem to be used, so that it is 

 heavier. 



Boys steal these eggs by scores, yet it makes no 

 difference apparently to the endless numbers of these 

 birds, who fill the wood with their peculiar hoarse notes. 



