146 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



built their nest, and successfully hatched a brood, in 

 the cartridge-box of a cannon which was fired twice 

 daily in the Gun Park at Woolwich. It is a notable 

 fact that in some parts of the country Sparrows build 

 extensively in trees, whilst in others such a circum- 

 stance is unknown. Some ornithologists are of opinion 

 that it is an hereditary habit, others supposing that it is 

 resorted to for the sake of coolness in hot weather ; but 

 a reason the writer inclines to is that in parts of the 

 country where houses and out-buildings are made of stone 

 the birds find ample accommodation in joints, crevices, 

 and crannies where the lime has been dislodged, and are 

 therefore not driven to the necessity of adopting trees, 

 like birds found in districts where the houses are made 

 of bricks, consequently closer, and affording less oppor- 

 tunity for nest-building. This bird, besides its noted 

 pugnacity, is an arrant rogue, and invariably takes ad- 

 vantage of the House Martin's labour. We have known 

 a house with twenty nests all close together under its 

 eaves, about half of which were occupied by Sparrows, 

 wliieli had, in some cases where the nests were new, been 

 actually watched ejecting the eggs of the original owner. 



The Robin is noted for its caprice in the selection of a 

 nesting site, and has been found hatching its eggs in 

 nearly every conceivable situation, from the ordinary 

 mossy bank to the pocket of a gardener's old coat which 

 had been hanging undisturbed for several weeks in a tool- 

 house. Old kettles, water-cans, inverted plant pots, &c, 

 m buildings cloge to machinery in daily motion, and other 

 equally curious places, are by no means rare occurrences. 

 A ease is recorded of a Robin's nest having been built in 

 the hole made by a cannon-ball through the mizenmast 



