172 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



rain, which during the last few days succeeded the snow, 

 has ahnost washed away the few straws that had escaped 

 the violence of the equinoctial gales ; however, I observed, 

 both yesterday and to-day, the unfortunate couple en- 

 deavouring by renewed exertions to repair damages, but 

 as the weather still looks threatening, I think the new 

 foundation not unlikely to follow the old. The position 

 chosen for the construction of the nest is not only a most 

 unsafe but an unlikely one, for the tree, as I have already 

 observed, is by no means a large one, and might be 

 climbed with ease, as the branch on which it is placed, 

 although not large, is strong enough to bear the weight 

 of a good- sized boy. It is wonderful to think what these 

 birds can manage to make a nest stick on, for at present 

 it seems to consist merely of a few loose straws balanced 

 on the forked branch so insecurely that one would 

 imagine the merest puff of wind would send it flying 

 before it. Why they should have selected a tree, and 

 such a tree, I am at a loss to conjecture, as there are 

 houses and outbuildings in all directions. They are not 

 Tree-Sparrows, however, although they might possibly 

 be taken for such, as Montagu tells us that ' every 

 House-Sparrow that has built its nest in a tree (by no 

 means an uncommon occurrence) has at once been pro- 

 nounced to be the Tree-Sparrow, and consequently that 

 species has been supposed to be more plentiful, and more 

 generally diffused throughout England, than we have 

 any reason to believe is the fact.' . . . April 4 : The 

 late tempestuous weather has completely swept away 

 the new nest, not one straw remaining, but the patient 

 and indefatigable birds are still there, seemingly unwill- 

 ing to quit the scene of their past labours, nor should I 

 be surprised to find them shortly renewing their en- 



