Song Birds and Water Fowl 



nite zest to every annual return of this, their 

 period of exceeding joy, the time of their 

 greatest hope, activity, and realization of their 

 life. 



Nest and eggs are the two distinct factors in 

 nidification, the interest in which is too apt to 

 be monopolized by the eggs. The minute size, 

 the elegant form so unique and graceful, the 

 beautifully varied coloring, and, above all, the 

 mysterious life-potency of an egg, invest it with 

 the deeper interest that is reasonably felt for the 

 gem, rather than for the casket that contains 

 it. In many ways it is certainly the more im- 

 portant of the two ; yet, in one respect — in the 

 evidence of individuality, conscious exertion, 

 and intelligence of the creature that fabricates 

 it — the nest is a far more interesting and sug- 

 gestive study. Moreover, the collecting of eggs 

 involves in some cases an abstraction of just so 

 much possible and valuable life from the fields 

 and woods ; although, if it be not too late in 

 the season, Nature commonly recoups her losses 

 by producing an additional clutch. But, even 

 so, the collector, unless he be a hardened natur- 

 alist, has a mean and uncomfortable feeling of 

 having done violence to the innocent creatures ; 

 so that such spoliation is to be strongly depre- 



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