WILD CREATURES OF GARDEN AND HEDGEROW 



out daily with the water, but still they perse- 

 vered and, entering by the hole over the handle, 

 dropped their loads of building material down 

 the shaft. How the people who went for water 

 grumbled at the mess that the birds had made ! 

 They had no sympathy whatever for the little 

 creatures that pushed odds and ends of moss, 

 grass, and fir needles so untiringly down into 

 the shaft. However, all things come to those 

 who try long enough, and one day the pump 

 got out of order, water would not come, and, 

 as another and better supply was at hand, the 

 old pump was allowed to stand idle and 

 unrepaired. The following spring the tits got 

 to work without delay; they stuffed the top 

 of the pump full of bits of grass and hay, then 

 they were seen bringing moss to make the cup, 

 and lastly quantities of soft warm rabbit's wool 

 to line it with. By standing on the pump 

 trough and lifting up the top of the pump, one 

 could see how they were getting on. It was 

 astonishing what good progress they made, 

 and how soon the nest was ready for eggs. 

 Then there came a morning when a delicate 

 pinky-white egg spotted with small red specks 

 was found nearly hidden in the rabbit's wool 

 lining. It is a point worth noting that the 

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