■^r-^'-'i. 



CHAPTER XII 



Watching Blackbirds, Nightingales, 

 Sand/'inartins, etc. 



JjIRDS are never more charming to watch than when 

 they are building their nests, and, of all our British 

 nest-builders, few, perhaps, build more charmingly than 

 the blackbird. It is the hen alone that collects and 

 shapes the materials, but the male bird accompanies 

 her in every excursion either to or from the nest. 

 When she is busied in its construction he sits in a 

 tree or a bush near by, and, on her leaving it for fresh 

 leaves or moss, follows her in a series of flights from 

 tree to tree, and, finally, down on to the ground, where 

 the two hop about, closely in each other's company. 

 It is seldom that the hen flies at once to where she 

 means to collect her materials, though time after time 

 it may be at the same place. Usually she flies past 

 the tree — all beautiful in spring and early morning — 

 where the cock sits, and perches in another at some 

 little distance beyond it. There you may lose sight 

 of her, but as soon as you see her handsome gold- 

 billed mate leave his bower and fly to hers, you know 

 301 



