Identifier: birdstheirnestse00vosg (find matches)
Title: Birds and their nests and eggs : found in and near great towns
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Vos, George Herklots
Subjects: Birds Birds Birds
Publisher: London : G. Routledge New York : E.P. Dutton.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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, and themallards nest described on p. 51 of Part I.) Had we not seen the bird leave the nest weshould doubtless have passed it, for we foundthe eggs almost covered over with leaves.As we looked down on the nest two or threeof the uncovered eggs loomed out in thediffused light and caught the eye. Ducksand some other birds are credited with con-cealing their eggs in this manner, but it isquite possible that in the hurry and excite-ment of getting off them suddenly, thelight leaves are blown on to the eggs by thefluttering of the birds wings and the scram-bling of its legs. It may, however, bepresumptuous of me to even hint at doubtingwhat may be a clever instinct given themby the great Creator. The old bird flewmany yards away, pitched upon the water,and swam about watching us. I had againthe greatest difficulty in getting the cameraerected upon the steep slope on which the THE LAST WEEK IN MARCH 31 nest was built close to the water. Naturephotographers will appreciate this difficulty.
Text Appearing After Image:
Plate XI : Built entirely of dried leaves—those ofthe Spanish chestnut. A Mallards nest (J size). Camera legs, on uneven ground especially, arevery unmanageable : now one leg is too long, 32 EARLY SPRING and then another too short. I find a goodplan is to have one of the three legs of thetripod about six inches longer than the othertwo—and in arranging them to keep thelong one always in front. After fixing thecamera the lens can be turned forwards. Buta ball and socket head on which to mount thecamera is very convenient (in fact, indispen-sable) for field work. Not only can thecamera be rotated at will, but it can be tiltedupwards or downwards or in any direction. Near by were the remains of a feast madeby some creature that certainly could dive,for scattered about were many mussel shells—some quite fresh and with their hinges intact.Now, mussels live in mud and in ratherdeep water. Carrion crows are known to feedgreedily on them, but they are not divingbirds. So we concluded th

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