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proof that maternal duties do not affect the vitality of sparrows in 

 a very great degree is the fact that occasionally there will be found in 

 their nests, at one and the same time, new-laid eggs, eggs half hatched, 

 and young birds. T have not seen this myself, but my friend, Mr. W. 

 A. D. Lees,'on the 30th May, 1888, took from a nest in the top of a young 

 hemlock tree, built on the remains of an old robin's nest, two young 

 birds just out, one half-hatched egg, and another fresh and good, 

 apparently new laid. Whether a continuous succession of eggs and 

 young birds ever extend over a whole breeding season remains, so far 

 as I know, yet to be found out. 



During the past fall, after the breeding season was over, several 

 members of the club observed sparrows carrying feathers and other 

 light materials to the nests occupied in summer, with the evident pur- 

 pose of making them warm and better adapted to resist the severity of 

 winter weather. In fact, it did not seem to be nest building at all, but 

 rather house-building, much after the same manner as a man might 

 build a house and occupy it. This habit, I believe, is common in other 

 cool climates. I was not aware of the fact until a few days ago, when 

 Mr. Lees called my attention to an article on " Winter Birds" in the 

 December number of Blackwood's Magazine, 1889. I will give the 

 quotation : " In times of severity he seeks the innermost eaves and 

 holes of thatches, gnarled ivy roots and interior of barns, being a lover 

 of warmth to no inconsiderable degree. Certain it is that at times, 

 when nesting cannot possibly occupy his mind, he may be seen dragging 

 feathers about which evidently are to warm the nest last used in sum- 

 mer." It was gratifying to learn that observations in Canada were 

 in such complete harmony with those made in England on this peculiar 

 habit of the sparrow. It would be a reasonable conclusion to arrive at, 

 that it was a case of adaptation to climatic conditions. 



Sparrows begin nest-building very early in the year, and it is 

 certain that occasionally they hatch young in February. I was inform- 

 ed by Mr. Fletcher a few days ago that he saw sparrows carrying hay 

 and other materials to a nest on Metcalf street in the last week of last 

 January, also that a warm new laid egg was found in Mr. A. Mc- 

 Intyre's porch on the 18th day of the same month. Mr. Armstrong, 

 M.P. for one of the ridings of Middlesex, tells me that he saw fall from 



