236 



WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



autumn, and flying off with them as if on nest- 

 building intent, and concluded that the birds were 



repairing their old 

 nests, a habit well 

 known of Rooks. I 

 think I can claim to 

 have made an inter- 

 esting discovery in 

 regard to this matter, 

 viz. that Sparrows so 

 engaged are preparing 

 for themselves warm 

 winter quarters or a 



COCK SPARROW. means of more effec- 



tual hiding. 



During March, 1897, I examined the eaves of a 

 thatch covering a cart-shed, the side walls of which 

 were about five feet in height. The Sparrows had 

 cut holes from six 

 to twelve inches 

 deep in the roof, 

 starting under the 

 eaves and follow- 

 ing the upward 

 trend of the 

 straws, and in 

 three separate in- 

 stances these holes 

 were lined with 

 feathers and had a 

 collection of drop- 

 pings on their outer 

 edges. The presence of the feathers puzzled me con- 

 siderably, for I was certain that the species never 

 bred in the thatch on account of its very easily 

 accessible position and the fact that I had examined 



NESTING- BOX 



