330 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



apparently quite unable to decide. At other times, 

 from some cause or other, the place fixed upon proves 

 wholly unsuitable, the materials for the nest refusing 

 to adhere. This was the case in a house not far 

 from my own a year or two back, where several pairs 

 seemed anxious to build under the projecting eaves, but 

 though from one side of the house to the other the 

 wall was dotted with little patches of clay, no safe founda- 

 tion could be made, and at length the attempt had to be 

 given up ; yet some persevered for a fortnight and thus, 

 to no purpose, lost much valuable time. There is no doubt 

 that the old nests, which remain firm, are inhabited year 

 after year, very probably by the same birds or some of 

 their brood, but in too many cases these are occupied 

 by sparrows in winter, who re-line them with straws 

 and other articles for their own convenience, and in 

 spring dispute the right of the martins to their former 

 tenements. The cunning bullying sparrow is the house- 

 martin's worst enemy. It sits quietly watching the 

 labours of the little architects from the gutter of the 

 roof or the top of the chimney, never interfering whilst 

 the work is in progress ; but, no sooner is the whole 

 completed, than it takes possession, in the absence of 

 the builders, and impudently pecks at them from the 

 entrance when they return to their home. Macgillivray, 

 on the authority of Mr. Durham Weir, gives no less 

 than three "well authenticated facts," as he terms 

 them, of martins collecting together to build up a re- 

 fractory sparrow in its ill-gotten nest, the names of the 

 individuals who witnessed the proceedings being given in 

 each case ; and many similar instances are also on record, 

 though generally looked upon as mere fabulous state- 

 ments. Most heartily do I wish that the martins fre- 

 quenting my house would thus summarily punish 

 a few of their tormentors; as it is, I am obliged to 

 come to the rescue, and with a small buHetted saloon 



