Birds and Hay
The one melancholy side of hay-making in fine weather is the loss it inflicts on ground-nesting birds ; but happily this year, at any rate, in my neighbourhood, the broods were safely hatched before the Juggernaut arrived ; and the bigger birds that nest on the ground are singularly active from the first day of their life. They have also the blessing of incomparable parents. None excels the partridge. Their skill in taking the family out of danger is incomparable, however big it is ; and sonic are very big, I know of two at any rate consisting of 17 and of 18 young. How the sitting bird can cover so many eggs is itself a marvel. It is, I think, a general experience of the year that birds have hatched successfully far beyond the normal. How will they stand the drought ? The mother grouse will carry water in her breast feathers ; but there is little evidence that other birds, plover for example, and partridge, tap any other water supply than the dew ; but if drought is severe their health may be ruined. Have gardeners ever seen birds (sparrows, black- birds, thrushes,, starlings, pigeons, finches and buntings, and jackdaws) so exult in the bird-bath ? Their pleasure suggests that water might well be provided on the farms and moors as well.
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