320 
BIRD-LIFE. 
appearance and decoyed her husband from his allegiance ; 
upon which his lawful partner destroyed the brood, 
throwing the eggs out of the nest, and filling it with 
turf. Sad and sorry, she remained in the neighbourhood 
of her old home until the end of August, when 
another pair arrived, and rebuilt the nest—probably the 
faithless husband and his paramour. Usually, however, 
most birds frequent a locality once selected and defend 
the same courageously against all aggressors. Birds 
which breed in companies are often obliged to do 
this, as they not only rob one another of materials, 
but sometimes seize upon their neighbour’s nests. All 
birds, on the approach of man or any predatory animal, 
show by their anxiety how dear to them is the cradle of 
their future brood. It is not every bird that will build 
another nest after deserting the first one; and, if ever 
done, the second is not so well built as the original. 
This inferiority of structure may also be remarked 
in cases where a bird has been hastily compelled to find 
a safe depository for her egg. It is not so, however, 
when it is a question of the usual second and third 
broods, which demand fresh nests; in this case the new 
edifice is in no way inferior to the first. Thus the 
new love demands her rights. 
