204 FRINGILLID^!. 



of the feeding-ground as he can. In spring, this bickering 

 assumes a more formidable character. A duel is com- 

 menced among the branches of a tree, obstinate and noisy ; 

 all the Sparrows within hearing flock to the scene of 

 combat, joining at first with their voices, and finally with 

 their beaks ; a general riot ensues, with as little object 

 seemingly as an Irish "row;" for suddenly the outcry 

 ceases, and the combatants return to their various occupa- 

 tions. A writer in the Naturalist gives an account of a 

 fray of this kind, during which three male birds fell at 

 his feet one after another either dead or dying ; but cases 

 of this kind are very rare. 



Sparrows build their nests at a considerable elevation 

 from the ground, but are by no means particular as to 

 the locality. At the period when most farmhouses and 

 cottages were thatched, the eaves were their favourite 

 resort, and here they hollowed out for themselves most 

 comfortable dwellings. The general employment of tiles 

 or slates has interfered with this arrangement ; but they 

 will fix upon any projection, niche, crack, or hole which 

 will hold a nest, and if these are all occupied, content 

 themselves with a tree ; but, as far as my own observa- 

 tion goes, the number built in trees far exceeds that to be 

 found in other localities. Very frequently they appropriate 

 the nest of the House Martin ; but the story often told 

 of a colony of Martins having walled up a Sparrow who 

 had thus treated a member of their family is not worthy 

 of credit.* The nest itself is a rude structure, composed 

 mainly of straw and hay, and lined with feathers and 

 any other soft materials which they can find. Two or 

 three broods are reared every year, the number of eggs 

 being usually five. The young are fed on worms, cater- 

 pillars, and insects of various kinds. 



* See p. 279. 



