544 HOMKS WITHOUT HANDS. 



feet from the ground is tlie usual height at which the nest is 

 placed, and the bird has so little anxiety about its nest that it 

 often builds upon the branches of a pear or apple-tree. The 

 nest itself is rather a pleasing specimen of bird architecture, and 

 is mostly built upon a slight foundation of delicate twigs, inter- 

 mixed with dry weeds of the preceding year. The body of the 

 nest is formed of straw, grass, wool, and vegetable fibres, and 

 the lining is almost wholly composed of very fine fibrous roots. 



Although the bird is so careless about concealing its nest, it is 

 jealously anxious about intruders, and attacks indiscriminately 

 any beast, reptile, or bird that approaches the favoured spot. 

 Dogs are forced to run away from the sharp beak and buffeting 

 wings of the angry bird ; the cat finds that the ascent of a tree 

 while a pair of infuriated birds are pecking her nose and blind- 

 ing her eyes is an impracticable task, and even man himself is 

 attacked by the fearless defenders of the home. 



The worst and most treacherous foe however, is the black 

 snake (Coryphodon constrictor), a harmless reptile, but one that 

 is much dreaded by uninstructed pedestrians, because it imitates 

 the manners of the rattlesnake with such fidelity that it is 

 generally reckoned among the poisonous serpents. This snake 

 lives mostly on rats, mice, young birds, and eggs, and in pursuit 

 of the last-mentioned dainties will ascend trees and traverse any 

 branch which holds a nest. 



The very sight of the black snake inflames the Mocking Bird 

 with fury, and he instantly darts at it, avoiding its stroke with 

 admirable quickness, and dealing a rapid succession of blows on 

 the reptile's head. The black snake is peculiarly vulnerable 

 about the head, and even tries to retreat, but is prevented from 

 escaping by the Mocking-Bird, which redoubles his efforts and 

 easily beats the reptile down. As soon as he sees his advantage 

 he seizes the snake by the neck, lifts it from the ground, buffets 

 it with his wings, pecks it again as it drops, and ceases not until 

 the hated enemy is left dead on the ground. 



The well-known Water Hen or Moor Hen [Gallmula 

 Chloropus) is nearly, though not quite, as variable in its nesting 

 as the red-winged starling lately described. The nest is always 

 placed near the water, but the bird seems to be very indifferent 

 about the precise locality. 



