184 HISTORY OF 



been deserted, or only guarded by about five or 

 six, like old soldiers in a garrison, now begins 

 to be once more frequented ; and in a short time 

 all the bustle and hurry of business is fairly com- 

 menced. Where these numbers resided during 

 the winter is not easy to guess ; perhaps in the 

 trees of hedge-rows to be nearer their food. In 

 spring, however, they cultivate their native trees; 

 and in the places where they were themselves 

 hatched, they prepare to propagate a future pro- 

 geny. 



They keep together in pairs, and when the 

 offices of courtship are over, they prepare for 

 making their nests and laying. The old inhabi- 

 tants of the place are all already provided ; the 

 nest which served them for years before, with a 

 little trimming and dressing, will serve very well 

 again ; the difficulty of nestling lies only upon 

 the young ones who have no nest, and must 

 therefore get up one as well as they can. But 

 not only the materials are wanting, but also the 

 place in which to fix it. Every part of a tree 

 will not do for this purpose, as some branches 

 may not be sufficiently forked, others may not 

 be sufficiently strong, and still others may be 

 too much exposed to the rockings of the wind. 

 The male and female upon this occasion are, for 

 some days, seen examining all the trees of the 

 grove very attentively j and when they have fixed 

 upon a branch that seems fit for their purpose, 

 they continue to sit upon and observe it very se- 

 dulously for two or three days longer. The place 

 being thus determined upon, they begin to ga- 



