146 May — Martins' Nests. 



hirondelles des f metres had fixed their nests in the 

 corners, partly on the woodwork and the stone sides, 

 but partly also upon the very glass itself. It seemed 

 necessary to air these chambers and to open the win- 

 dows, which I did with the greatest regret, but it 

 afforded a singularly good opportunity for ascertain- 

 ing the actual strength of adhesion in the nests, which 

 was truly surprising. Not only are the birds themselves 

 perfectly safe in them, for they weigh scarcely any thing 

 to speak of, but it would require a considerable weight 

 to detach the little structure from its place ; and even 

 after the nests had been torn away from the windows, 

 large fragments of them still adhered obstinately to 

 the stonework. I imagine that these birds, which are 

 almost always in movement, have a particular satisfac- 

 tion in feeling that their nest is firm and substantial ; so 

 they fix it to the strong work of human masons that is 

 not shaken by the wind. In this preference for what 

 is fixed and substantial they differ notably from some 

 other birds that like their nests to be rocked like a 

 sailor's hammock, which one would imagine must be 

 fatiguing in windy weather ; however, it is their taste, 

 and there is no disputing about tastes. Buffon re- 

 marks that goldfinches like to build upon thin and 

 weak branches, especially of plum-trees and walnuts, 

 that are rocked by the wind. It is to be supposed that 

 these little creatures are independent of the sensation 

 of sea-sickness. 



One has a particular respect for the industrious nest- 

 builders that have houses of their own and establish 



