PERCHING BIRDS. 113 



in vain, for when found he was still fast, but quite dead, 

 having been gored in numerous places by the antlers 

 of his companions. Whether they had done this in hos- 

 tility to one who may have rendered himself obnoxious 

 for there is a great spirit of rivalry amongst the bucks 

 or whether the wounds had been inflicted in kind but 

 vain endeavours to effect his freedom I know not, but 

 I am inclined to think the latter may have been the 

 case, and that the friendly spirit had been manifested 

 with more zeal and energy than judgment. Had it been 

 in the autumn, during the rutting season, when fights are 

 constantly occurring between rivals, it would have only 

 been natural to refer it to the former cause. 



I have often been amused to see a sparrow take pos- 

 session of the nest of a house martin (Hirundo urbica). 

 The eaves of a house near my own were always selected 

 by the martins year by year for their erection, and rarely 

 has a season passed without one of these aggressions 

 occurring, which I have watched from my windows with 

 much interest. 



It always appeared to me that this forcible taking 

 possession of their neighbour's house by the sparrows, 

 was never done with the intention of making it their own 

 residence, but from sheer mischief, and a desire to tease 

 and tantalize the poor martins. These invasions always 

 took place when, the nest was empty, either before any 

 eggs had been laid, or after the young had gained suffi- 

 cient strength to take wing. I have watched the spar- 

 row sitting quietly on the tiles above the nest, as if he 

 was the most innocent creature possible, intent only 

 upon his own affairs, and had not the slightest thought 

 of intruding upon his neighbours; but the moment he 

 became assured that the nest was unoccupied, he flut- 



I 



