114 BIRDS IN LONDON 



community. Shindies are of frequent occurrence 

 all the year round, and may arise from a variety 

 of causes ; my belief is that, as they commonly 

 take place at or near some favourite nesting or 

 roosting site, they result from the sparrow's sense 

 of proprietorship and his too rough resentment 

 of any intrusion into his own domain. Sparrows 

 in London mostly remain paired all the year, 

 and during the winter months roost in the 

 breeding-hole, often in company with the young 

 of the last-raised brood. Why all the neighbours 

 rush in to take part in the fight is not so easy to 

 guess : possibly they come in as would-be peace- 

 makers, or policemen, but are themselves so 

 wildly excited that they do nothing except to 

 get into each other's way and increase the 

 confusion. 



Of more interest are those daily gatherings 

 of a pacific nature at some favourite meeting- 

 place, known to Londoners as a ' sparrows' 

 chapel.' A large tree, or group of trees, in 

 some garden, square, or other space, is used by 

 the birds, and here they are accustomed to 

 congregate at various times, when the rain is 

 over, or when a burst of sunshine after gloomy 

 weather makes them glad, and at sunset. Their 



