NESTS AND EGGS
OF
FAMILIAR BRITISH BIRDS,
DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED;
WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE
HAUNTS AND HABITS OF THE FEATHERED ARCHITECTS,
AND THEIR TIMES AND MODES OF BUILDING;
SECOND SERIES.

BY H. G. ADAMS.

Author of "Favorite Song Birds," "Beautiful Butterflies," "HummingBirds," &c., &c.

WITH EIGHT COLOURED PLATES OF EGGS,
CONTAINING THIRTY-EIGHT DIFFERENT SPECIES.

LONDON:
GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, 5, PATERNOSTER ROW.
M DCCC LVII.

INTRODUCTION.

WHAT IS AN EGG?

It may at first strike our young readers that this is a question veryeasily answered; if they think so, let them try what sort of an answerthey can give to it, and if they break down in the definition, we willendeavour to help them, as we are told in the old fable, Jupiter didthe waggoner; but it is best for young people to try, and, forthat matter, old people too; let them never believe that theycan't do a thing—"where there's a will there's a way." Many aboy that will take a deal of pains, and incur no inconsiderable risk oflife and limb, to climb up a tree after a bird's nest, finds it toomuch trouble to read and learn about the habits of the creature he isthus ready to deprive of its warm comfortable home and beautiful eggs.He cannot tell you, if you ask him, of what the nest is composed, norhow, nor when it was built, much less can he answer the question whichwe have just put to our readers,—

WHAT IS AN EGG?

"Well," we hear some one say, "an Egg is a thing of an oval shape,large or small, white or coloured and speckled, as the case may be; ithas a shell which breaks if you knock it, because it is brittle; andinside is a yellow substance called the yolk, surrounded by a white,clear liquid; if you boil it for a little time it becomes set,so that you can take it up in a spoon, and in this state it is good toeat. Oh! very good, I like an egg, especially for breakfast, with alittle salt; and then eggs, and other things with them, make custards,and pancakes, and puddings, and all sorts of nice things; and then Irecollect some such funny 'Stanzas to an Egg by a Spoon,' whichbegin,