FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117  
118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   >>   >|  
the subject, which, the more it is considered the more important it seems to be. * * * * * PAPERS ON NATURAL HISTORY. * * * * * WRENS' NESTS. THE Editor of Loudon's "Magazine of Natural History," and one of his contributors, Mr. Jennings, were of opinion that the common Wren never lined its nest with feathers. The following contribution was sent to the "Magazine of Natural History" in consequence of this, and led to some discussion afterwards:-- _April 17th_, 1829. Mr. Jennings and yourself, in opposition to Montagu, are of opinion that the Wren never lines its nest with feathers; like the knights of the gold-and-silver shield, both sides are right. It is true, many Wrens' nests may be found in which there are no feathers; but did you ever find either eggs or young ones in them? As far as my observations go, the nest in which the Wren lays its eggs is profusely lined with feathers; but during the period of incubation, the male--apparently from a desire to be doing something--constructs several nests in the vicinity of the first, none of which are lined; and whilst the first nest is so artfully concealed as to be found with difficulty, the last is very often seen. The Wren does not appear to be very careful in the selection of a site for these cock-nests, as they are called in Yorkshire by the schoolboys. I have frequently seen them in the twigs of a thick thorn hedge, under banks, in haystacks, in ivy bushes, in old stumps, in the loopholes of buildings, and in one instance in an old bonnet, which was placed among some peas to frighten away the blackcaps. * * * * * _August 15th_, 1831. TO PROFESSOR RENNIE. In your edition of Montagu's "Ornithological Dictionary," just published, you say--speaking of the Wren--"An anonymous correspondent of Loudon's 'Magazine of Natural History,' &c. &c.;" and you remark, "There can be no doubt of these supposed 'cock- nests' being nothing more than unfinished structures of paired birds; otherwise, the story would require the support of very strong evidence to render it credible." As I am the anonymous correspondent alluded to, I forward you a few observations of facts tending, as I think, to confirm my view of the question. In the first place, these nests are far too abundant for the birds, which are not plentiful--at least, in this neighbourhood. Again, it is at least five to one that any Wren's nest which is found during the summer without a linin
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117  
118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

feathers

 

Magazine

 

Natural

 
History
 
Montagu
 

correspondent

 
anonymous
 

Loudon

 

opinion

 

observations


Jennings
 

Ornithological

 

bushes

 

haystacks

 

Dictionary

 
published
 

edition

 

RENNIE

 

frighten

 
loopholes

instance

 
bonnet
 

blackcaps

 

PROFESSOR

 

buildings

 

August

 

stumps

 
unfinished
 

confirm

 

question


tending

 

alluded

 

forward

 

summer

 

abundant

 

plentiful

 

neighbourhood

 

credible

 

render

 

supposed


speaking

 

remark

 

require

 

support

 

strong

 

evidence

 
structures
 

paired

 

vicinity

 

opposition