BIRDS OF 



with a Callow Swallow hanging by the nape of the neck in his 

 bill, dropped it on the ground, and soon dragged out another 

 amid the distressing cries of the Swallows, who, seeing their 

 hopes so completely blighted, sat mute and mournful on the 

 ridge of the house for a short time and then departed, leaving 

 the Sparrows in undisputed possession of the box. There they 

 remained and raised some young ones during the summer. 



By the spring of the following year the numbers had in- 

 creased, and they began to roost under the verandah, which 

 brought frequent complaints from the sanitary, department, and 

 a protest was made against their being allowed to lodge there. 

 Still, in view of the prospective riddance of insect pests from 

 the garden, matters were arranged with the least possible dis- 

 turbance to the birds, and we even stood by and saw them dis- 

 lodge a pair of House Wrens, who had for years been in possession 

 of a box provided for them in an apple tree in the garden. So 

 the second year wore on, no further notice being taken of the 

 Sparrows, though we remarked that they were getting more 

 numerous. 



I had missed the sprightly song and lively manners of the 

 Wrens, and in the spring when they came round again seeking 

 admission to their old home, I killed the Sparrows which were 

 in possession, in order to give the Wrens a chance, and they at 

 once took advantage of it, and commenced to carry up sticks in 

 their usual industrous manner. They had occupied the prem- 

 ises for two days only, when they were dislodged. Again the 

 intruders were killed off, and domestic felicity reigned for three 

 days, when a third pair of Sparrows came along bent on the 

 same object, and if possible more overbearing and determined 

 than their predecessors. This time I thought of a different 

 mode of accomplishing the object in view, and taking down the 

 box at night nailed a shingle over the end, bored with a centre- 

 bit a hole just large enough to admit the Wrens, but too small 

 for the Sparrows, and put the box back into its place. Early 

 in the morning the assault was renewed, but the Wrens found at 

 once that they were masters of the situation, and never were 

 two birds more delighted. From his perch aloft the male 

 poured forth torrents of scorn and ridicule, while the female 



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