File:British birds' eggs and nests - popularly described (1870) (14732228406).jpg

Identifier: britishbirdseggs00atk (find matches)
Title: British birds' eggs and nests : popularly described
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Atkinson, J. C. (John Christopher), 1814-1900
Subjects: Birds Birds Birds
Publisher: London New York : G. Routledge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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left for her to incubate, there is, so far as human observationcan reach, no pain, or concern, or uneasiness, to the little ownersfrom the abstraction of one egg or more, and, therefore, of course,no cruelty in the abstraction. The legitimate pursuit of sport inthe stubbles and turnip fields, or on the open moor, does notdiffer more widely from the cruel proceedings of the cold-blooded,hard-hearted slaughterer of his dozens of Rock-birds (many of whichare always left to die iingeringly and miserably), than the objector manner of action of the true lover of bu-ds and their waysand nests end eggs, from the ruthless destruction of every nestand its contents which may happen to be met with by some youngloutish country savage. Again, a few words more, and tliis time about classification.I should like, if such a course were profitable, or even practi-cable, to make just such a classification as an active, sharp-eyed,observant, persevering nest-hunter would, as it were, find ready- PLATE II.
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1. Kite. 2. Common BuMard. 3. Honey Buzzard. 4-5. Butcher-bird. 6. Spotted Flycatcher. Iied Flycatcher. 8. Dipper. 9. Missel Thrush. 10. Song Thrush. II. Blickbiid. 12. Ring Ouzel 13. Hedge Sparrow. U. Robin. 15. Redstart. 16 Stonechat 17. Whinchat. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS. 5 made for him, by the results of his rambles and investigationsand discoveries ; that is to say, to group the birds and their eggsaccording to their frequent occuiTence, theii comparative, butstill not positive, infrequency, or their downright rarity. Bythis means, and the subdivisions which would be suggested byan enumeration of the most usual sites of the several nests, aninteresting, and at least partially instructive as well as good,system of classification would be devised. But I am afraid sucha system would not have much to recommend it, besides its noveltyand interest and practical hints where to look for this birdsnest or the others; and how to look so as to find. One greatdisadvantage would be that such cla

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