A HOUSE OF MANY DOORS 49 



The walls of the nest are as big around as a 

 hogshead and as rough as the protruding ends of 

 corn-stalks, dead limbs, and small cord-wood can 

 make them. It is around in the crevices of these 

 jagged walls that the blackbirds and sparrows 

 lodge their nests. 



I am by no means certain that all is harmonious 

 in this queer colony. There was no appearance 

 of discord none but the presence of the spar- 

 rows. The blackbirds and hawks might get on 

 peaceably together; but what saint among the 

 birds could live peaceably with an English spar- 

 row? 



Neither am I sure why these small birds choose 

 to live thus with the hawks. They are both in- 

 dependent birds, not hangers-on at all; so it can- 

 not be the mere convenience of a ready-made 

 nesting-site. That could be had anywhere; be- 

 sides, naturally, neither grackles (another name 

 for these crow-blackbirds) nor sparrows would 

 fly far away into a marsh in looking for a place 

 to build. It cannot be that they come for the bits 

 of fish left after the young hawks have eaten. 

 They are not particularly fond of fish, and there 

 would not be crumbs enough to make their coming 

 worth while, anyway. 



