BIRD BIOGRAPHIES AND OfHER BIRD SKETCHES BY OLIVER G. PIKE, F.Z.S., F.R.P.S. Fellow of tlie Institute of Lecturers WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE AUTHOR AND BY ARTHUR BROOK ALL FROM WILD NATURE NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS TO MY DEAR WIFE I LOVINGLY DEDICATE THIS BOOK 553741 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE BUZZARD . . . .13 II. THE KINGFISHER AND ITS HOME . III. THE BIRDS OF A NORTHERN LOCH . 43 8 IV. THE VILLAGE THRUSH , . -78 V. THE EGGS ON TOP OF THE HILL . 88 VI. THE NEST IN THE OLD OAK . . 97 VII. THE NEST ON THE GREY CRAG . . IIO VIII. THE CRADLE IN THE REEDS . .121 IX. THE LAKE IN THE VALLEY . .130 X. THE HOME IN THE OLD STONE BRIDGE . 144 XI. THE BIRDS OF COWSLIP CORNER . XII. BIRD-WATCHING .... l68 -153 INDEX . . . . .177 vii LIST OF PLATES WITH A LOOK OF PERFECT CONTENTMENT THE LINNET SETTLED UPON HER NEST . . Frontispiece FACING PAGE AFTER HIS FIRST FLIGHT THE BUZZARD LANDED UPON A ROCK . . . . . .28 THE KINGFISHER CAPTURED A LARGE FISH TO TAKE TO ITS YOUNG . . . . .48 THE THRUSH BROODING OVER HER YOUNG . . 82 THE LAPWING AND HER EGGS . . .90 THE RAVEN STOOD ON GUARD ON A ROCK ABOVE THE NEST . . . . . .112 THE REED-WARBLER WONDERED WHEN THEIR LARGE APPETITES WOULD BE SATISFIED . . .121 GREAT-CRESTED GREBE SWIMMING . . . 136 THE LITTLE GREBE AT REST ON HER EGGS . . 140 THE DIPPERS NEST ..... 146 THE YOUNG HEDGE-SPARROWS CLAMOURED LUSTILY FOR MORE FOOD..... 164 WHEN THE WREN STOOD NEAR THE NEST THREE HUNGRY BEAKS WERE THRUST OUT . . 172 viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE LOOKING AROUND . l6 STANDING BY HER EGGS . . . .24 By Arthur Brook SETTLED UPON HER EGGS . . . 32 By Arthur Btook YOUNG BUZZARD AND ITS DEAD COMPANION . . 34 YOUNG BUZZARDS READY TO ENTER THE WORLD . 36 By Arthur Brook HIS FIRST RABBIT . . . . .40 By Arthur Brook OUTSIDE HER NESTING HOLE . . . .46 WATCHING AND WAITING . . . O WAITING FOR A FISH . . . . 5 2 HER PLUMAGE RUFFLED BY THE WIND . . 54 THE GREY-LAG GOOSE AT REST . . 60 ix