NESTS AND EGGS. 
for, in the single family of the owls, about whose genera 
no doubts can exist, we find the widest diversity of form; 
the egg of the eagle-owl being nearly round, that of the 
long-eared owl an obtuse oval, while that of the short-eared 
owl presents a perfectly ovate shape. The rich and beautiful 
colouring of many of the eggs has also much engaged the 
attention of some inquirers, as we shall see. 
With returning spring all nature revives; the birds which 
remain with us all the winter seem restored to life by the first 
fine day ; those which departed on their journey to a warmer 
climate in the autumn return from their migration ; and once 
more the woods and fields re-echo with their song. The rook 
and the crow give the first intimation that the pairing 
season is at hand. Their cawing is incessant, as is also the 
industry with which twigs and branches are conveyed to their 
intended dwelling-place in the tree -tops. 
A little later, and the smaller birds make the grove sound 
musical, as their several songs of love are poured forth. From 
this time the male becomes the slave of the female. He sings 
to charm her ; he labours incessantly to aid her ; he gathers 
materials for the nest; he assists her in building, and super- 
intends the workmanship ; and marvellous it is to see them, 
without other instruments than beak and claws, build and 
weave or sew the nest, according to their peculiar habits. 
Observe the materials which they employ with so much effect, 
and with a discernment which indicates something approaching 
to intelligence. Look how skilfully one weaves the catkins of the 
willow, the poplar, and thistle down, surrounding it by stronger 
fibres, and the address with which it is suspended at the extremity 
of some slender pendulous branch, beyond the reach of anything 
that only runs or creeps. Another, having made its calcula- 
tions, fixes its nest so near to the surface of the water, that as 
the wind sweeps through the four reeds to which it is so firmly 
and yet so delicately attached, its bottom just touches the 
water without being immersed, even in the most violent storm. 
The eggs of birds vary again according to the species ; not 
only in respect to their colour, but in their form also. They 
are white, blue, grey, green, red, or ash-coloured ; and, besides 
the general predominant colour, they are covered with spots, 
dashes, or streaks of darker shades, which are regularly or 
irregularly grouped, sometimes towards one end, sometimes the 
other. Dr. Cams attempts to explain this diversity of colour : 
he considers it to be the result of a process of decomposition of 
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