322 
BIRD-LIFE. 
the conduct of many birds at the nest; one can easily 
distinguish the joyousness of their hearts by their 
songs and actions. 
In general the first egg is laid immediately after the 
completion of the nest, and the remaining ones at 
intervals of from four-and-twenty to eight-and-forty hours. 
The larger birds of prey usually only lay an egg every 
three days; most birds, however, lay daily, or each 
alternate day. 
The number of eggs deposited varies from one to four-and- 
twenty, but from three to six may he taken as the average. 
Most land-birds lay more than one egg, while amongst 
water-birds there are many species which never exceed 
this number, such as the Petrels, Shearwaters, Gannets, 
Guillemots, Puffins, Razorbills, Little Auks and Penguins 
( Aptenodytes ). Birds laying two eggs are more common; 
thus the Eagles, large Owls, Goatsuckers, Swifts, 
Humming-birds, Pigeons, large Skuas and Black Guille¬ 
mots never lay more. The nests of the following birds 
generally contain over six:—the Wrynecks, Titmice, Gold- 
crests, Wrens, all the Gallinaceous birds (some Rasores 
excepted) the Corncrake, different Rails, Waterliens and 
Coots ( Gallinula , Stagnicola and Fulica ), Geese, Ducks and 
Mergansers. 
Each egg is greeted on its arrival with every demonstra¬ 
tion of joy by the mother, and by the father with song, if 
he is gifted with that power. In some cases the female 
loudly announces her good fortune to the world at large, 
as all my readers must have remarked with the 
domestic Hen. As soon as an egg has been laid, both 
parents fuss about in the neighbourhood of the nest, 
keeping careful watch over the cradled treasure. In cold 
wet weather the mother keeps the eggs warm, without 
