BIRDS AND MAN 47 



for some seconds sitting perfectly still, looking 

 very pretty with the graceful red head for a 

 stand, the doe's long ears thrust out on either 

 side of him. From his living perch he sprang 

 into the air and flew away, going close to the 

 surface ; then slowly the deer raised her head and 

 gazed after her black friend — gratefully, and 

 regretting his departure, I could not but think. 



Some birds when breeding exhibit great 

 anxiety at the approach of any animal to the 

 nest ; but even when most excited they behave 

 very differently towards herbivorous mammals 

 and those which they know to be at all times 

 the enemies of their kind. The nest of a ground- 

 breeding species may be endangered by the 

 proximity of a goat, sheep, deer, or any grazing 

 animal, but the birds do not winnow the air 

 above it, scream, make threatening dashes at 

 its head, and try to lead it away as they would 

 do in the case of a dog or fox. When small 

 birds dash at and violently attack large animals 

 and man in defence of their nest, even though 

 the nest may not have been touched, the action 

 appears to be purely instinctive and involuntary, 

 almost unconscious, in fact. Acts of this kind 



