248 FROM liLOMIDON TO S^fOKY. 



shone tlirou<>li its fabric in many places. This 

 fabric seemed to be made of dozens of small 

 twigs matted and woven together in semi-sancer 

 form, and held firmly in place by some translu- 

 cent, gelatinous substance of a yellowish-white 

 color. Masses of the same substance held the 

 shallow nest in its place against the hard, cold 

 wall of brick and mortar. Protruding from the 

 nest were the long and slender wings of a bird, 

 .which was sitting snugly upon the structure, 

 with her face turned directly to the bricks. 

 The tapering wings crossed near the body, and 

 their tips spread like a Y, under which a short, 

 stiff, fan-shaped tail extended for a part of the 

 distance covered by the wings. These stiff tail 

 feathers, kept spread all the time, terminated in 

 sharp spines, readily discernible. Occasionally, 

 as I watched, the sitting bird wriggled on her 

 nest, and her wings moved restlessly. 



Suddenly the column of air in the chimney 

 was thrown into vibration, and a dull booming 

 sound resulted. Something darkened the open- 

 ing of the shaft, the interrupted light trembled 

 in a confusing way ; I was strongly inclined to 

 get out from under, and found it impossible to 

 avoid closing my eyes. Simultaneously with 

 these disturbing events, a bird's voice in the 

 chimney produced a series of rapid whistling or 

 peeping notes, so mingled as to render the hearer 



