268 KNOWING BIRDS THROUGH STORIES 



birds took possession of the house by noon there was a 

 creamy white egg inside. In three days there were three 

 more eggs, and then the mother bird started sitting, but 

 troubles were not over. 



A pair of English sparrows, among the very first ever 

 seen in our neighborhood, decided that this martin box 

 had been constructed especially for them. English spar- 

 rows appear to have no conscience. No matter how far 

 the nesting operations of other birds have gone, if they 

 decide that a nesting site is desirable they immediately 

 set about to take possession. 



These martins were busy catching insects when these 

 sparrows arrived, entered, and decided that the location 

 was ideal. To be satisfied of this meant to act, so these 

 busybodies began to throw on the ground the few straws 

 the Martins had placed in the box. Nor was this all. A 

 sparrow had just come to the door with one of the precious 

 eggs in her mouth when Elygood circled near enough the 

 house to see what was going on. With a chatter of anger, 

 he flew like a bolt to the nest hole, entered, and catching 

 the sparrow by the back of the neck, backed out of the door 

 and shaking her angrily, flung her to the ground. By this 

 time his mate arrived and joined in the melee. The spar- 

 row which had been so peremptorily thrown out was not 

 hurt in the least but merely infuriated. For some time 

 there was a battle on and about this martin house; but in 

 spite of all her pernicious ways, the sparrow is no match 

 for the martin when numbers are nearly even. The spar- 

 rows had to leave the martin box, and they took up their 

 abode in the wind-mill tower nearby. 



The martin is a strong fighter, but he is not spiteful. 

 When the matter of possession of the nest box was settled. 



