THE CITY OF THE BIRDS. SI 



man, and so were more painstaking in the per- 

 formance of their little monodramas ? 



Many of the scratchers have a peculiar adroit- 

 ness in concealing their nests, which they well 

 stand in need of. How cunning even is the 

 domestic biddie when she yields to a wild instinct 

 and privately stalks forth across the field to the 

 nearest woods, with the intention of stealing a 

 . round dozen of eggs from her owner ! She half 

 suspects that some one may be watching her, and 

 so she appears particularly absorbed in the pursuit 

 of worms and grasshoppers ; but, by indirect paths 

 and many circuits she reaches the wood at the 

 appointed time, and hastens, like a miser, to her 

 secret casket, to gloat over her treasures. It is a 

 chance if they are found, till some fine morning. 

 Madam Speckle, with her responsible cluck, brings 

 out a motley brood of downy balls, that go bounc- 

 ing along through the leaves and grass culms, as 

 they are slowly driven home. 



Perhaps there are no scratchers' nests more 

 difficult to find than those of the quails. Though 

 the meadow and shrub-land hereabout now are 

 fairly jubilant with the crowing and whistling of 

 the male birds, their wives, the silent partners, 

 have well learned by experience the knack of 

 secreting their jewels in many a leafy and briery 

 drawer and recess, which the eyes of weasels and 

 men are very apt to overlook. 



