MOOR-HENS IN HYDE PARK 167 



of the boys, always throwing stones at a bird. The 

 nest is so low down that any boy could put his hand 

 in and take the eggs." " Take the eggs I " cried the 

 man, more astonished than ever. " And throwing 

 stones at a bird ! Who ever heard of a boy doing 

 such things ! " 



Closely related to this error is another error, 

 which is that noise in itself is distressing to birds, 

 and has the effect of driving them away. To all 

 sounds and noises which are not associated with 

 danger to them, birds are absolutely indifferent. 

 The rumbling of vehicles, puffing and shrieking of 

 engines, and braying of brass bands, alarm them less 

 than the slight popping of an air-gun, where that 

 modest weapon of destruction is frequently used 

 against them. They have no " nerves " for noise, 

 but the apparition of a small boy silently creeping 

 along the hedge-side, in search of nests or throwing 

 stones, is very terrifying to them. They fear not 

 cattle and horses, however loud the bellowing may 

 be ; and if we were to transport and set loose herds 

 of long-necked camelopards, trumpeting elephants, 

 and rhinoceroses of horrible aspect, the httle birds 

 would soon fear them as little as they do the familiar 

 cow. But they greatly fear the small-sized, quiet, 

 unobtrusive, and meek-looking cat. Sparrows and 

 starlings that fly wildly at the shout of a small boy 

 or the bark of a fox-terrier, build their nests tmder 



