214 NESTING PLACES. 



their numbers in spring are in no way remarkable. I have called 

 them plunderers, and they are so; they are benefactors likewise, 

 seeming to be appointed by nature as one of the agents for keeping 

 from undue increase another race of creatures, and by their prolificacy 

 they accomplish it. In spring and the early part of the summer, 

 before the corn becomes ripe, they are insectivorous, and their con- 

 stantly increasing families require an increasing supply of food. 

 "We see them every minute of the day in continual progress, flying 

 from the nest for a supply, and returning on rapid wing with a grub, 

 a caterpillar, or some reptile ; and the numbers captured by them in 

 the course of these travels are incredibly numerous, keeping under 

 the increase of these races, and making ample restitution for their 

 plunderings and thefts. When the insect race becomes scarce, the 

 corn and seeds of various kinds are ready ; their appetite changes, 

 and they feed on these with undiminished enjoyment. 



The nests of the Sparrows are generally found under the 

 eaves of tiled or thatched roofs, in holes or crevices of 

 walls, in old water pipes, or any orifices which may seem 

 convenient to them. Occasionally they build among the 

 higher branches of fruit-trees in a garden, and the nest in 

 that case is remarkable for its large size in proportion to 

 that of the bird. It is formed with a dome, and com- 

 posed chiefly of hay, and lined very thickly with feathers, 

 of which the bird, being very partial to warmth, generally 

 collects an abundance, even when the nest is well shel- 

 tered, as on the inner side of the thatch of a barn. Among 

 other curious places chosen by this bird for nesting, 

 may be mentioned the hollow of the lock attached to the 

 entrance gates of the Han well Lunatic Asylum. l The cir- 

 cumstance, 1 says the narrator of this incident, t is the more 

 remarkable, from the continual locking and unlocking of 

 the gates by the porter of the institution, rarely less than 

 three hundred times in the course of the day, to say 

 nothing of the noise on each shutting and movement of the 

 bolt of the lock so closely contiguous to its nest. None of 

 these inconveniences have, however, appeared to disturb 

 the little intruder ; the work of incubation still went on, 

 and three young ones were the result ; the latter have 

 within the last few days taken wing. We may mention, 

 that for the last two years this lock has been a favourite 

 spot, nests having been made within it on previous occa- 

 sions; but owing to prying curiosity, they have been 



