266 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



birds' nests of various kinds than in any equal 

 area far away from human habitations. In fact, 

 many birds seem to adopt man as a natural 

 partner. Business relationships of such a kind 

 between creatures belonging to totally different 

 orders are not uncommon ; and many instances 

 could be given of birds which find it profitable 

 to establish a partnership with some quadruped. 

 The rhinoceros and buffalo birds of Africa afford 

 typical examples ; as also does the more familiar 

 starling, which often may be seen riding on the 

 backs of domestic sheep. Some of these associa- 

 tions are of a very odd and complex character, 

 as when the prairie-owls share the same premises 

 with marmots and rattlesnakes. One interesting 

 example of a partnership between birds of dif- 

 ferent species which I think has not been alluded 

 to by any naturalist is that of the redshank and 

 the lapwing. The herdsmen of the Essex 

 marshes are well aware of this compact, and 

 if they find a redshank's nest they invariably 

 search about with the expectation of finding the 

 eggs of a plover within a few yards' distance. 

 In this case the mutual benefit derived from 

 association is pretty clear. The redshank is an 

 exceedingly vigilant bird, but has little power of 



