At the inner end of this burrow does this bird deposit, in
a good degree of safety, her rude nest, consisting of fine grasses
and feathers, usually goose-feathers, very inartificially laid
together.
Perseverance will accomplish anything: though at first one would
be disinclined to believe that this weak bird, with her soft and
tender bill and claws, should ever be able to bore the stubborn
sand-bank without entirely disabling herself; yet with these feeble
instruments have I seen a pair of them make great dispatch: and
could remark how much they had scooped that day by the fresh
sand which ran down the bank, and was of a different colour from
that which lay loose and bleached in the sun.
In what space of time these little artists are able to mine and finish
these cavities I have never been able to discover, for reasons given
above; but it would be a matter worthy of observation, where it
falls in the way of any naturalist to make his remarks. This I have
often taken notice of, that several holes of different depths are left
unfinished at the end of summer.
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