118



Mr. Maurice Amsler,



bay-tree was intended to distract my attention from the actual

nesting site finally chosen. I understand that our Magpie amongst

others sometimes builds several nests, hut, of course, only occupies

one.


On June 1st I had an eye-opener, the supposed cock was

sitting in the nest box, and later in the day I was able to inspect the

box and found one egg laid on the bare board; I did this at the risk

of my personal beauty, and especially of my eyes ; both birds were

furious, but I was justified in my action by what I found. Naturally

it was necessary to provide a nest for the eggs.


On June 2nd the second egg had been laid (on each occasion

between 10-11 a.m.), and I sallied forth in search of a Thrush’s nest.

Of course, for a long time I found nothing but nests with eggs or young,

or else structures that were so weather-beaten that they fell to pieces,

when touched. Finally, having found what I wanted, I returned

home in fear and trembling. I had first to face the infuriated birds,

and secondly, to run the risk of making them desert altogether. It

was necessary to lift the hen off her eggs before I could get to work,

and I did this with my eyes shut, as the male was all over me ; the

noise, moreover, was deafening, and I feared an immediate visit from

a neighbour or a E.S.P.C.A. inspector. The box containing the eggs

and about to receive the nest was unfortunately oblong instead of

square. My nest filled the breadth of the box perfectly, but there

was naturally a hollow space left at the end of the box, and although

I filled up the void fairly well with straw and made everything secure

as I thought, future events proved that I was wrong.


Shortly after my departure the hen returned to her eggs, and

that night laid her third egg and started sitting in earnest ; on

June 4th the last egg was deposited. Up to the present you will

remember I was still uncertain whether I had a true pair or not, the

exchange of food from one to another and back again had been con¬

tinuing, but it did not help one in differentiating the sexes and was

unlike the behaviour of any birds I had ever owned or seen.


I hoped I had a true pair, but still feared both were hens ;

however, my fears were soon put to rest. Shortly after the hen began

her incubation I observed the cock collect some fifteen or twenty

meal-worms which he swallowed and pouched for some minutes ; he



