St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-19
CUNNING OF THE NEST BUILDERS.

Birds building on high trees are not
so wary about the concealmcnt of their
nests as hedge builders and those that
seek the sprlnglng corn or grass land for
the shelter of their homes, trusting to
the loftiness of situation for security.
\ nest placed upon the ground is IN
constant danger OF exposure; Il browsing
animal might destroy it; then the scythe
with one sweep occasionally lays bare
one Or more nests, thereby enlangering
the eggs or callow ncstlings. This rem
ders the parent birds very wary, and
causes them to practise great ingenuity
in their efforts to protect the young
birds.
The skvlark has been known to carry
off its eggs or offspring to place OF
safety after an exposure of the nest, and
it has been said its long hind claw--the
use of which has puzzled many natura-
LISTS specially adapted by Nature for
more easily grasping and transporting its
treasures from the source Of danger,
When the young birds are too bulky
to be thus removed, the parent carries
them on its back, though this mode Of
removal is somewhat difficult one.
Nesting upon the ground, the partridge
is likewise liable to be disturbed. 4
bird of this species was once startled by
plough passing within a yard or so of
its nest. Destruction was almost GER
ttinty, as the plough must pass entirely
over it the next round, and the laborer
wondered how the partridge would act.
The time necessary for going round the
field was about twenty minutes, yet, in
that almost incredible period, the parent
birds had effected the removal of some
twenty-onc eggs to safe spot.
Careful search led to the discovery of
the bird calmly seated upon her treasures
in the bottom of the hedge, out of reach
of the plough. Nineteen partridge
chicks were eventually Matched, and duly
escaped unmolested.
Some birds will fors1kc their nests if
so much as finger is placed within;
but others, suspicious that their secret
has been discovered, seek to hide them
more et1icaciously by admirably ingenious
plans.
Among the thick fern growth of bank
a wood warbler had woven a neat. The
bird had evidently selected this bank
because of the quantity of dead leaves
scattered and heaped thereon; the tawny
crispness Of these corresponding nicely
with the domed editice, thereby render
ing discovery almost impossible.
But the fine quality of the ferns led to
its detection. Tugying at the frail
fronds, a kindly disposed lady scared
the sitting warbler, which flew, with
plaintive call, to an adjacent bough and
there exhibited signs Of great distress.
The lover of Nature could not resist
peep at the cosy home, which, at
glance, appeared like a shapeless mass
of dead leaves and grasses.
Some few days after, walking through
the same wood, she was again tempted
to pay the little wood bird visit
Puzzled and surprised, she could not
find its whereabouts, but few minutes
search revealed an alteration from the
original mode. The cunning bird had
blocked up the old entrance and covered
that side of the nest with dead leaves,
breaking a doorway through on the
opposite side.
The magpe is nothing if not ingenious.
He always barbados his bulky nest with
thorn branches, SO that to plumber it is
by no means an easy matter; but when
circumstances obligc the ''pie" to build
in a low bush or hedge-an absence of
lofty trees being a marked feature Of
some northern localities--he not only in
TERRACES his home, but also the entire
bush in a most formidable manner.
Nor does he stop here. To make
assurance doubly sure" he fashions
means of exit as we'll as entrance to his
castle, so that if disturbed he can slip
out by his back door, as it were.-LNew
York Telegram.