160 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST, 
much light on the matter. Whether a layer of fishbones 
is purposely laid for the reception of the eggs, as Mon- 
tagu asserts, I cannot say, but in every nest I have ex- 
amined I have never found any other material used, nor 
have I ever seen the eggs on the bare ground. In every 
instance they rested on a layer of the castings, which 
were slightly hollowed for them, though the latter form 
may have been produced by the mere weight of the 
parent bird while the eggs were laid. I believe that a 
deserted hole of the water-rat is usually chosen, and that 
they rarely excavate for themselves. 7 
The young ones, after they have left the nest, are ex- 
ceedingly clamorous; so much so, that their loud, shrill 
twitterings were once the cause of my witnessing the in- 
teresting scene of a brood being fed by their parents. 
They were six in number, and were perched on the 
boughs of a dead bush overhanging the stream. They 
seemed very voracious ; for though both the parent birds 
were constantly bringing them food—sometimes a small 
fish, sometimes what appeared like a slug or leech— 
they apparently failed in satisfying their appetites, and 
every fresh supply was eagerly competed for, sometimes 
a sort of scuffle taking place as to which was to receive 
it. During the absence of the parents the young ones 
sat very quietly; but the distant approach of the old 
ones was quickly perceived, and in a moment their list- 
less attitude was changed into one of animation, they 
stretched themselves eagerly forward, and with loud 
twitterings and open mouths showed how expectant 
they were. 
The Chimney Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is almost 
as much a household bird as the robin; it appeals to 
our better nature by the fearless confidence with which 
