46 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



continuance. My son, a lad of twelve years, was the 

 first to call attention to its existence. The discovery 

 was wholly accidental. In the exercise of his scanso- 

 rial powers, a failing to which the generality of lads 

 is prone, he unexpectedly fell upon the structure. At 

 this time it contained hut three eggs which were 

 slightly altered. From some strange and mysterious 

 cause, the sparrows, seemingly, had not observed this 

 trespass upon their grounds, my son's discovery ante- 

 dating theirs by a couple of days. On reflection, the 

 circumstance does not seem so mysterious after all. To 

 reach the poultry -yard unobserved by their human per- 

 secutors, they were compelled to make a circuitous 

 journey; by so doing, they avoided altogether the tree 

 which supported the robin's nest. These raids upon 

 the poultry-yard were always made in the morning and 

 evening. The robins were doubtless apprised of the 

 fact, and shaped their actions accordingly. During the 

 intervening time less caution was necessary, as the 

 visits of the sparrows were quite infrequent. 



The cherry tree had now begun to ripen its fruits. 

 The sparrows were not slow in making the discovery. 

 From the poultry-yard fence the tempting cherry could 

 be easily seen as it dangled from its flexible stem. The 

 keen eye of the robin discerned it in the near distance. 

 The temptation was not to be resisted. They sallied 

 out of their well-hidden retreat to taste the luscious 

 fruit, but, alas! they were espied by the sparrows, who 

 had already taken possession of the trees, in vast numbers. 

 They were instantly assailed and driven from the neigh- 

 borhood. Four times in succession they labored to regain 

 possession, but without avail. Defeated and disheart- 

 ened, they removed to more congenial quarters, leaving 



