The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-07-05
Birds Nests.

Nest-building Is beautiful, but yet we
may dare to say that it is sometimes de-
fectlve. The nest does not always pro-
tect the young birds sufficiently. When
they grow large and feel strong they
bubble over the edge of the nest, as it
were. Their wings, though not yet
full. grown, save them from injury in
descent by spreading out like para
chute, but are powerless to assist them
after reaching the ground. In the grass
they are the prey Of rocks, crows, mag
pies, jackdaws, snakes, rats, and cats
They have no means Of escape what
ever: they cannot fly nor run-the tall
grass stops running-and are frequently
killed for amusement by enemies who
do not care to eat them. Numbers die
from exposure in the wet grass, or dur
ing rain; for they are not able to fly up
and perch on branch. Those who go
to South Kensington to look at the
bird's-nest collection there should think
of this, if they hear any one discours-
llk Oll lnldlllDID llDllllCJ VII Vic OllG
hand or evolution on the other. These
two theories, the infallible instinct and
that of evolution, practically represent
the great opposing lines Of thought
the traditional and the scientific. Ar
examination of birds nests, if conducted
free of prejudice, will convince any in
dependent person that neither the one
nor tie other explains these common
hedge difficulties. Infallible lnstinc
has not supplied protection for tn,
young birds, nor has the experience o
thousands of years of nest building
taught the chaffinch and the missed
thrush to give their offspring fai
start in "the struggle for existence.
Boys who want linnets or gold-inche
watch till the young are almost read
to tumble out of the nest, and the
place them in a cage where the oil
birds come and feed them. The trutl
is that the nest seems rarely designe,
for the safety Of the f1edgeling as wei
as of the egg. Birds that nest in hole
are frequently very prolitic-notably tn
starting, which rears its brood in tn
hollow trees of forests. The vast nun
bers of these birds seem partly due t
the fact that their fledgelings escap
decImation.
Country boys set some value on th
eggs of the nettle.creeper or white
throat, because the nest is difficult t
find and the eggs curiously marked
They want the eggs as soon as lait
when they blow well and it is just q
this stage that the nest is most difiicu
to discover, as the bird gives little ev
dence of its presence. The nest
placed among the thick grasses an
plants that grow at the verge or dow
the sides of dry bitches, and is FRI
quently overshadowed by nettles. 81
there does not appear to be any col
scious effort at cOncealment. The bill
spends the day searching for food
such places-henGe. its name, nettl
creeper-creeping along the hedges, u,
der brambles and thorns, and builds
nest in the locality to which it is accu
toned. 1t may appear cunning to
superficial human observer, but it
certain that the bird does not think
self cunning. Men whe live by tishil
build their houses near the sea Il
white-throat frequents the hedge al
ditch, and there weayes its slender mes
1t Is said that, by some scheme OF N
pre's, eggs are 50 colored as to deceiy,