NOTE-BOOK OF A NATURALIST. 135 



The expedients to which small birds have recourse to 

 thwart detection when they are conscious that they are 

 surprised in the act of bearing materials for making 

 their nests, or conveying food to their young, are amusing. 



On Easter Sunday, as I was passing along the foot- 

 way that borders the National Gallery — (thank Punch 

 and The Times, the Vernon collection is at last to be dis- 

 interred from the vault to which a grateful Government 

 had consigned it) — I saw a sparrow fly down to the 

 neighbouring hackney-carriage- stand and pick up a very 

 long straw, with which it flew, with some labour, towards 

 the building. The long, streaming straw, attracted the 

 attention of some of the pedestrians, who stopped and 

 looked at the loaded little bird, which was directing its 

 flight towards the portico of the gallery; but, finding its 

 motions watched, it turned short round and pitched with 

 its straw on one of the window-sills, and the people then 

 passed on. Presently it flew again towards the portico ; 

 but the people again stopping and looking — for if one 

 passenger stops and looks up in a great London thorough- 

 fare, you have in a very few moments an increasing crowd 

 — it flew back to another window ; and the second lot of 

 gazers went their way. The little bird then started again 

 with its straw towards one of the same pillars, and, cut- 

 ting round it, so as to avoid prying eyes as much as pos- 

 sible, bore it to the capital of one of the pilasters and dis- 

 appeared, straw and all, into the snug nook, made by a 

 part of the projecting ornament, which it had chosen as 

 the place for making its nest. The wary bu'd was not 

 disposed to let an inquisitive public know the way to its 

 home. On many other occasions I have observed these 

 and other birds remain waiting about for a lono- time 

 with nest-materials and food in their bills when they 

 have perceived that I was watching them ; but the 

 moment I turned my head, they were off with their bur- 

 den to the nest. This would not be worth mentioning:. 



