242 Birds. 



of a house, often against a perpendicular wall : without 

 any projecting ledge to support any part of the nest, its 

 utmost efforts are necessary to get the first foundation 

 firmly fixed, so as to carry the superstructure safely. On 

 this occasion, it not only clings with its claws, but partly 

 supports itself by strongly inclining its tail against the 

 wall, making that a fulcrum ; and thus fixed, it plasters 

 the materials into the face of the brick or stone. But 

 lhat this work may not, while soft, sink by its own weight, 

 the provident architect has the prudence and forbear- 

 ance not to proceed too fast ; but by building only in the 

 morning, and dedicating the rest of the day to food and 

 amusement, he gives it sufficient time to dry and harden. 

 By this method, in about ten days, the nest is formed, 

 strong, compact, and warm, and perfectly fitted for all 

 the purposes for which it is intended. But nothing is 

 more common than for the house-sparrow, as soon as 

 the shell is finished, to seize on it, eject the owner, and 

 line it according to its own peculiar manner. Sometimes, 

 however, the Martins prove too clever for the sparrow ; 

 when the intruder obstinately retained possession of the 

 nest, the Martins have been known to collect from all 

 parts of the neighbourhood, each bringing a pellet of 

 mud, with which the orifice of the nest was soon securely 

 closed, and the unfortunate sparrow was then left to die 

 of starvation. The Martin will return for several seasons 

 to the same nest, where it happens to be well sheltered 

 and secured from the injuries of the weather. They 

 breed the latest of all our swallows, often having un- 

 fledged young ones even so late as Michaelmas. 



The first hatch consists of five eggs, which are white, 

 inclining to dusky at the thicker end ; the second, of three 

 or four ; and of a third, of only two or three. While the 

 young birds are confined to the nest the parents feed 

 them, adhering by the claws to the outside ; but as soon 

 as they are able to fly they receive their nourishment 

 on the wing, by a quick and almost imperceptible motion. 



" Welcome, welcome, feathered stranger, 



Now the sun bids Nature smile ; 

 Safe arrived and free from danger, 

 Welcome to our blooming isle." FRANKLIN. 



