THE BEAUTIFUL LA DDE B. 
247 
pocket-money were bird-nesting expeditions to 
supply some new housekeeper or ambitious 
dame with these coveted ornaments. When 
properly conducted, no great objections could 
be made to these forays, as no real harm was 
ever inflicted on the birds. One or two eggs, 
when a larger number was found, would not be 
missed by the mother-bird. Sometimes, in¬ 
deed, a greed for rapid gains may have caused 
the depredators to quite overlook all consider¬ 
ations of cruelty; yet there was in general a 
strict adherence to the rule of mercy—they did 
not leave an empty nest behind them. Nor 
was the love of gain the only motive which led 
one to engage in these enterprises. Bird-nest¬ 
ing became a study and delight; the eye and 
the mind were fed and feasted on the beautiful 
speckled treasures which were found therein. 
The zeal and enjoyment which stimulated this 
pursuit soon secured to the enthusiast the larg¬ 
est and most varied collection in the whole 
neighborhood, of which he was not a little 
proud. • In this work of egg-gathering very 
naturally the study of the position, form, and 
texture of the nests, and the shape and embel¬ 
lishment of the eggs, became matters of deep 
