File:Wild bird protection and nesting boxes and a full list of the orders made under the "Wild Birds Protection Acts" (1897) (14564474558).jpg

Identifier: wildbirdprotecti00maserich (find matches)
Title: Wild bird protection and nesting boxes ... and a full list of the orders made under the "Wild Birds Protection Acts" ..
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Masefield, John Richard Beach
Subjects: Birds -- Conservation Great Britain Birds -- Eggs
Publisher: Leeds, Eng., Taylor
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
ickens, whenone day we found the young about outside on theground, dead or dying and the nest half pulled out.Thinking that some heartless boy had done thedeed we restored the remnants to the box; but nextday the whole of the nest was on the ground andall the young Redstarts dead. A few days after awhite egg was laid in the extreme corner of the boxon the bare boards, and others followed before wehad found out what sort of a bird had laid them.Lifting the lid noiselessly one day, I found aWryneck sitting on the eggs. On seeing me, shefled, using, I am sorry to say, extremely bad languageas she retired. The young Wrynecks, when hatched,were queer little birds, with inordinately long necks,much longer than they could properly manage; andas the young birds moved about in the nest theirnecks became inextricably twisted and it was im-possible to tell which head belonged to which bird.As the bodies became larger the necks shortenedand the tangle gradually unwound, so that before Pint,- I.V.
Text Appearing After Image:
MoDKi. LoDoixc HousKs fot; Tit^ NESTING BOXES, ETC. 61 they had to leave the nest each bird was able, with-out mistake, to lay claim to his own liead and neck. I would recommend the use of these boxes to anylovers of birds, they are a great interest. At anotherplace where similar boxes are used it was found oneyear that eggs were constantly being broken andthe contents consumed. The depredator could notbe discovered; but one day two Tomtits were seento be in great distress, flying wildly about themoutli of the box in which they had a line clutch ofeggs. The box was opened, and inside was found asquirrel asleep among the shattered shells of theburgled eggs. The squirrel was caught, soundlybeaten and turned loose again, and I believe thatfrom that time forth no more eggs were destroyed.I commend this anecdote to those who think thatflogging has no deterrent effect. As to the hindrances to be met with in ourendeavours to protect our wild birds during thenesting season, perhaps the three

Note About Images