Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 



145 



little inoiistci- 

 above, ehartieter- 

 istieally eiiouob. 

 has its iiiouth wide 

 open, sereeeliiiio" 

 for more food. 

 The nest was that 

 of a Hedi>e-spar- 

 row, plaeed in the 

 very eentre of a 

 variegated holly- 

 bush. 



The foster- 

 parents show the 

 greatest attention 

 to the usurper long 

 after it has left the 

 nest, and may 

 sometimes be seen 

 busily feeding it 

 when it is eapable of flight, and is many times bigger than 

 the two of them put together. 



The l?arn-owl, though one of a })ersecuted raee, still 

 holds its own. In 1!K)1 a pair built in the eaves of an un- 

 occupied house in a side street. Though the united hissings 

 and snorings attracted attention of a hostile character from some 

 persons who shoidd have known better, the nocturnal family 

 were luckily protected l)y the inhabitants of the neighbouring 



10 



Heron {Ardca ciitcica) axd rsEsr. 



