2/o THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



is sometimes the case, he has not room to make a 

 complete circuit by reason of his tail striking the 

 wall of cliff, up and down he pats it smooth. Now 

 more clay, now grass, then seaweed, more tramping, 

 and the nest is ready. But all this work is not 

 done in quietude. Robbers are on the watch to 

 thieve their neighbour's hard-earned materials. 

 When the busy workman departs in search of more 

 clay or weed, the dishonest and lazy ones will pounce 

 down and seize his bricks and mortar. But the 

 owner is on the watch, for, as he flies away, we can 

 see his anxiously-turned head and eye. He per- 

 ceives the robbery, and returns to catch the thief by 

 the throat, whom he soundly shakes. In the mean- 

 time he is joined by half a dozen of his neighbours, 

 who assist him in drubbing the plunderer. But 

 even a rogue has friends, and these gather to his 

 assistance, and the mtte becomes general. After a 

 time they tire of waging war, and return to their 

 work ; but the excitement caused in the settlement 

 is not allayed for some time, as the noise and 

 motions of the recent disputants plainly prove. 



