THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 
97 
the nests of these birds, which the working people 
seemed fond of destroying ; they did not offer anything 
attractive, like most other birds' nests ; on the con-' 
trary, the smell and appearance of them was extremely 
unpleasant, from the quantity of fish bones and scales 
which had been disgorged by the hen while sitting. 
She is said to be so much attached to the place 
she has chosen to rear her little family, that, should 
the eggs be taken even two or three times, she will 
still persevere, and ultimately complete her task. A 
French author relates, that he had one brought him, 
which had been taken from the nest several leagues 
from his house ; after examining her plumage, he se 
her at liberty, when she was seen instantly to wing 
her way back to her nest, where she had only just 
before been captured ; there her faithful partner was 
watching for her, and though her nest had been 
robbed twice before, of six or seven eggs each time, 
she began to lay again, and reared her young, not 
withstanding the season was far advanced. 
In some counties, the cottagers imagine that this 
bird, when stuffed and hung up to the ceiling, will 
foretel the change of weather ; and that, however 
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