A PAIR OF ROBINS. 347 



deterred these fearless settlers. They entered 

 through a window-frame, the lattice of which had 

 been removed ; and in a child's covered cart, which 

 with its horse attached to it was hanging on a peg 

 near the fireplace, and just afforded space for the 

 purpose, they built their first nest early in the 

 spring. The circumstance was observed, and 

 soon became an object of curiosity to the neigh- 

 bours, many of whom came to look at the nest : 

 these inquisitive visits, however, had not the effect 

 of alarming the birds, who here without accident 

 reared their first brood. When the attention of 

 the parents was no longer needed by their full- 

 fledged offspring, they set about providing for 

 another family, and built their second nest on 

 a shelf on the opposite side of the room, close to 

 an old mouse-trap. Here again they received 

 numerous visits of inquiry from the neighbours, 

 and reared and dismissed their progeny. This second 

 brood had no sooner left them, than they again 

 betook themselves to the task of building a third 

 nest under the same sheltering roof, and for this 

 purpose chose another shelf, in a different corner 

 of the same room ; and there in their mossy bed 

 in a bundle of papers, on the 21st of June, were 



