86 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



out-hanging of fluttering, pendent rubbish. How 

 the new and unexpected tenants find room as the 

 young Sparrows grow is a mystery. Certain it is 

 that the unprepared-for weight occasionally brings 

 down the whole structure, and the Sparrows 1 house- 

 keeping comes to an abrupt termination. It is not 

 difficult to distinguish a Sparrow that has nested 

 in a stolen home, for it has a stumpy tail, due, 

 of course, to abrasion against the hard cabin 

 walls. 



The innovation, too, of watering the town roads 

 with salt water has added a new menace in the 

 shape of spoiling the Martins' mortar. In the first 

 place, the mud is salt, which must be noticed by 

 the sense of taste, although it has not deterred the 

 Martins from trying it. Again, it is very susceptible 

 to changes in the temperature, and while it may 

 remain hard and compact during hot dry weather, 

 its consistency and strength are so much impaired 

 by a continuation of moisture, that it becomes easily 

 detached from the supporting wall. And down 

 comes "babies and cradle and all." 



Consequently there has seemed a very apparent 

 rush to the country at least, so it appeared to me ; 

 and I have wandered some miles around looking for 



