WILD PASTURES 



the pear tree and started building in the 

 one nailed against the side of the barn. 

 The sparrows followed, of course. Then 

 the bluebirds went back to the pear-tree 

 box. The sparrows followed. The blue- 

 birds then started building in the third 

 box and daily brought material to each 

 of the three, though ostensibly, I thought, 

 to the second and third. At any rate 

 the sparrows seemed to concentrate their 

 attention more on these boxes. Mean- 

 while the bluebirds quietly completed the 

 nest in the pear tree and later laid their 

 eggs there, in comparative peace. 



The sparrows did not build in either 

 of the other boxes. They did not want 

 to. Neither did they care particularly 

 about the material which they stole, for 

 they did not continue to take it after 

 the bluebirds had finished the pear-tree 

 nest and were in a position to defend 

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