MOOR-HENS IN HYDE PARK 167 



of the boys, always throwing stones at a bird* The 

 nest is so low down that any boy could put his hand 

 in and take the eggs/' " Take the eggs 1 " cried the 

 man, more astonished than ever* " And throwing 

 stones at a bird 1 Who ever heard of a boy doing 

 such things I " 



Closely related to this error is another error, 

 which is that noise in itself is distressing to birds, 

 and has the effect of driving them away* To all 

 sounds and noises which are not associated with 

 danger to them, birds are absolutely indifferent* 

 The rumbling of vehicles, puffing and shrieking of 

 engines, and braying of brass bands, alarm them less 

 than the slight popping of an air-gun, where that 

 modest weapon of destruction is frequently used 

 against them* They have no " nerves " for noise, 

 but the apparition of a small boy silently creeping 

 along the hedge-side, in search of nests or throwing 

 stones, is very terrifying to them* They fear not 

 cattle and horses, however loud the bellowing may 

 be ; and if we were to transport and set loose herds 

 of long-necked camelopards, trumpeting elephants, 

 and rhinoceroses of horrible aspect, the little birds 

 would soon fear them as little as they do the familiar 

 cow* But they greatly fear the small-sized, quiet, 

 unobtrusive, and meek-looking cat* Sparrows and 

 starlings that fly wildly at the shout of a small boy 

 or the bark of a fox-terrier, build their nests under 



