BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



in the protection of all wild life, so that in- 

 stead of boasting of the number of birds they 

 have shot they tell of the number of nests they 

 are protecting. Not long ago a fine marksman 

 was heard to say, "Just to think I used to shoot 

 the Swallows! I did not know what a sin it 

 was." But he is making it up to the Swallows 

 now, for he is protecting them from the annoy- 

 ance of European Sparrows, as well as from 

 other enemies. 



The Swallows can nest about the stone 

 foundations of the barn, where they are com- 

 paratively safe from cats and red squirrels, but 

 the Sparrows they cannot evade. These will 

 deliberately sit about and watch the hard work- 

 ing Swallows build their nest. The chances 

 are they will take it away from them as soon 

 as it is finished. If, however, the Swallows 

 hold their own with them, they are likely to 

 throw out the eggs, or still worse, the little 

 ones as soon as they are hatched, and the poor 

 Swallows are forced to build again for their 

 second family, or leave altogether, as they fre- 

 quently do. If they succeed in remaining 

 through the nesting season it is very likely 

 that when they return in the spring they will 



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