Although not surrounded either by branches or leaves, it was completely hidden, for the cunning little birds had matched the outside of the nest exactly with the bark of the tree.
Uncle George got an old chaffinch’s nest from the gardener, and showed the boys how it was constructed. Horse-hair, feathers, and moss were neatly woven together to form the nest. The inside was lined with finer hairs and feathers. The outside was covered with pieces of bark, lichen, and faded moss. These were stuck on with silken threads stolen from spider’s webs. The whole thing looked at a distance more like a part of the tree than a bird’s nest.
A CHAFFINCH’S NEST
THE THRUSH
The next time the boys went to see the nest they found four tiny eggs in it. They were bluish-green in colour, and splashed with red and brown marks.
It was while paying a third visit to the chaffinch’s nest that Uncle George found the nest of the song-thrush.
High up on a tall tree the cock thrush was pouring out his song, and filling the woods with melody.
“Can you see him, boys?” Uncle George asked, and he handed Frank a pair of field-glasses which he used for watching the birds.