How Animals 'Work. 



the season, the Stonechat begins to build its nest, choos- 

 ing a well-concealed site amidst thick heather or dense 

 furze, on or very close to the ground. Only the softest 

 dry grass and moss are collected and rather loosely 

 woven together to form the nest, and generally a little 

 rabbit's fur is added as a soft lining on which the precious 

 eggs are laid. It is rather a frail little nest, but is very 

 dainty in its workmanship. The Meadow Pipit or 

 Titlark's nest is often built among tall grass tussocks 

 and heather, very often where there is a slight hollow 

 in the ground, and is composed entirely of dry grasses, 

 the finest being used for lining. The hen bird has a 

 little trick of suddenly rising from the grass and half 

 flying, half fluttering for a few yards and then sinking 

 down, only to rise again at your approach to flutter a 

 few yards farther. It is a clever device on her part to 

 attract your attention, and to draw you away from her 

 precious nest and eggs. More elaborate in its con- 

 struction is the nest of the Goldfinch. In this case the 

 nesting site is generally from six to even twenty feet 

 above the ground, in a small fork among the outer 

 boughs or twigs of some large tree, or resting upon a 

 broad thick branch ; but sometimes the bird will elect 

 to build in a thorn bush or tall hedge, or even in the 

 midst of a growth of ivy covering a tree trunk. It is 

 about the beginning or middle of May that the Gold- 

 finch starts its building operations. Moss, wool, hair, 

 cobwebs, and similar soft materials are collected to- 

 gether, and with these a most beautifully compact, nest 

 is built. 



The Chaffinch is a most artistic nest-builder. About 

 the end of March the little architect begins to seek a 



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