CH.II.] | DISPOSITION OF EGG-SHELLS. 167 
bation. But gradually he becomes deluded into 
the belief that sitting upon the eggs is his proper 
métier, and in a day or two not only returns to 
them of his own accord, but performs all the other 
duties of the situation in an exemplary manner, 
hovering the young ones when hatched, and look- 
ing after them with as much care as the true 
mother could have done. 
If Partridges’, Pheasants’, or Grouse’s nests 
be examined, after the young birds have been 
hatched, it will be found that the half egg-shells 
which remain are very generally left together in 
pairs, one being closely fitted into the other, as 
cups are stowed away in a crockery shop. Ordi- 
narily a small end is packed inside a large one, 
but this is not always the case, as I have now and 
then seen two large ends thus united. This oper- 
ation is not performed by the parent bird, as is 
proved by its occurrence when the eggs are 
hatched in boxes so small that she could not pos- 
sibly get at them to do it if she wished. How the 
young birds manage it, or why it is done at all, 
I cannot imagine. Of the fact it is easy for any 
one to satisfy himself, as I have done. Though I 
mention Grouse, Pheasants, and Partridges, as the 
birds in whose nests I have particularly noticed 
