xample, are not easily distinguished from the ground on which they
lie.

Many eggs that are laid in holes or other dark places are white without
markings of any kind, as illustrated by those of the Chimney Swift,
Belted Kingfisher, and all Woodpeckers. In such instances Nature shows
no disposition to be lavish with her colouring matter where it is not
needed.

_Behaviour When Nest Is Discovered._--After the young are hatched it is
even easier to find nests by watching the parents. The nestlings are
hungry at all hours, and the old ones are visiting the nest at frequent
intervals throughout the day. Birds {25} behave very differently when
their nests are discovered. A Cuckoo will glide away instantly and
will make no effort to dispute your possession of her treasures. A
Crow will also fly off, and so will a Wild Duck and some others. On
the other hand, the Mockingbird, Robin, or Shrike, will raise a great
outcry and bring about her half the birds of the neighbourhood to pour
out on you their vials of wrath, unless you have the good judgment to
retire at once to a respectful distance. Warblers will flit from bush
to bush uttering cries of distress and showing their uneasiness. The
Mourning Dove, Nighthawk, and many others will feign lameness and seek
to lead you away in a vain pursuit. A still larger number will employ
the same means of deception after the young have been hatched, as, for
example, the Quail, Killdeer, Sandpiper, and Grouse.

However much a bird may resent your intrusion on the privacy of its
sanctuary, it is very rare for one to attack you. I remember, however,
a boy who once had the bad manners to put his hand into a {26}
Cardinal's nest and had a finger well bitten for his misdeed. Beware,
too, of trying to caress a Screech Owl sitting on its eggs in a hollow
tree; its claws are very sharp, and you will need first-aid attention
if you persist. Occasionally some bird will let you stroke its back
before deserting its eggs, and may even let you take its photograph
while you are thus engaged. On one occasion I removed a Turkey
Vulture's egg from beneath the sitting bird. It merely hissed feebly
as I approached, and a moment later humbly laid at my feet a portion of
the carrion which it had eaten a short time before--a well-meant but
not wholly appreciated peace-offering.

_Lessons to Be Learned._--An infinite variety of interesting things may
be learned by watching birds at their nests, or