THE PIED FLYCATCHER 59 



To take note of the particular markings on 

 an egg and subsequently to identify it when 

 lying among others which resemble it, would 

 not be impossible or perhaps difficult for the 

 reasoning mind, but it involves consideration, 

 which implies the faculty of thinking. Animals 

 do not possess this faculty, but they have 

 unerring intuition. 



With regard to the incident above related, 

 it is, of course, open to readers to form their 

 own conclusions ; I can only say the facts 

 occurred exactly as stated. How the birds 

 removed their eggs I do not pretend to say, 

 but it is well known that animals and birds do 

 shift their belongings on occasions when danger 

 threatens them, and there is still time to effect 

 a removal. I myself have seen, on more than 

 one occasion, a wild duck carrjdng (flying) her 

 young from the nest to a distant piece of 

 water. As the bird made a number of trips, I 

 imagined she was carr5dng one only at a time. 

 On another occasion the duck, on catching 

 sight of me, suddenly altered her course and, 

 at the same time, let fall a duckling which 

 landed unhurt on a quickset hedge. Here, 

 again, I could not be sure that this was the 

 only one carried. 



My impression is that during transit the 

 youngster (or two) lies hunched up under the 



