AN ENEMY IN THE NEST. 83 



sheltered side ; and here nothing is to be seen but 

 the sharp beak of the sparrow, and its determinedly 

 twinkling eyes. The martins besiege the nest 

 with their cries, and are apparently engaged in a 

 war of words with the invader, who shows not 

 the least disposition to come out. Threats and 

 entreaties being found to be in vain, the defrauded 

 pair of birds resolve on seeking further assistance. 

 They fly away, and have been seen in some 

 time after, to return with about twenty of their 

 kindred. With their assistance they proceed to 

 inflict a terrible punishment on the unsuspecting 

 sparrow which is no less than burial alive. 

 Collecting a sufficient quantity of clay, a number 

 of birds stop up the entrance to the nest, and 

 the following day the pair proceed to construct a 

 new one against its side. This anecdote is a 

 matter of fact. The proprietor of a cottage where 

 such a scene had been enacted had the curiosity to 

 pull down both nests, and in that occupied by the 

 sparrow found its rotten corpse, together with 

 several eggs.* 



Another instance, which may be held out as a 

 warning to all sparrow-burglars, is recorded in the 

 * Mr. W. Thompson: Annals of Natural History. 



