40 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



birds' more habitual nesting-places. The Tree- 

 sparrow would appear to be following these evolu- 

 tionary lines more slowly; still maintaining the 

 ancient tree-building habit in England, but adopt- 

 ing the more modern method on the Continent. 



In the corner of the orchard, just through the 

 gate, is an old gnarled apple-tree. There is a large 

 hole in the upper trunk, which for many years has 

 been taken possession of by the Starlings. Here 

 they come in the early spring to chatter in the sun- 

 shine on the dead boughs above the hole, or upon 

 the rim of the chimney-pot, when the notes of many 

 familiar birds are introduced; the plaintive cry of 

 the Golden Plover, or the clear bell-like " L^-chru — 

 U-chru," of the Great Tit, the sounds being accom- 

 panied with a castanet-like rattling of the wings. 

 When the hen is sitting upon the four or five pale- 

 blue eggs laid in the dark recess, there is silence for 

 a little time, soon to be broken by the incessant 

 clamours of the young. Now, from earliest dawn 

 to eventide the parents labour without a moment's 

 respite. So regular are they in their movements, 

 to and fro, that their flight appears to create a 

 straight black line ruled in the air, and along this 

 they beat their way, appearing and disappearing 

 above the topmost sprays of the apple-trees at 

 exactly the same place. There are meadows with 

 long, lush grass near at hand, and the active, 

 dark forms can be seen threading the herbage 

 here, or, indeed, busily moving upon the lawn 

 itself. Now they go much further afield for their 

 food, and from the little summit by the beeches 

 one can easily trace them through the glasses, 



