I04 THE STUDY OF ANIMAL LIFE 



Among other ground-nesting birds, the Part- 

 ridge and Pheasant use leaves wherewith to build 

 a cup-like nest just sufficient to shelter the 

 precious eggs, and the first-named always covers 

 over her treasures until she commences to sit. 

 Several female Pheasants often lay in the same 

 nest, this being a polygamous bird in our country, 

 and thus accounting for the curious phenomenon. 



The joyous Lark does not make much pretence 

 about home affairs — being too busily occupied 

 soaring towards the blue ether above — the foot- 

 print of a horse or cow often serving as a nesting 

 site, a few grasses being utilised as a lining. Two 

 near relatives, the Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipit, 

 construct nests under a tuft of grass, or upon 

 some favourite moor or bank, and whilst they are 

 loosely made, they exceed that of the Skylark, so 

 far as concerns their general appearance. 



Two arboreal birds, the Willow Wren and 

 Chiff Chaff, build their dome-shaped nests upon, or 

 very close to, the ground, although the two birds 

 are so fond of the tree-tops, the homestead being 

 nicely shielded from view, and each lined with a 

 profusion of feathers. 



The Nightingale, too, builds a deep nest quite 

 close to the ground, and uses oak leaves very 

 largely in its construction. When the female is 

 sitting, her head and black eyes can only just be 

 seen. Many of the other Warblers, such as the 



