34 THE REDBREAST. 



when others, forming the school-library, within the 

 same frame-work, would have equally suited the 

 purpose. 



Another nest was constructed, and for two successive 

 years, in a still more extraordinary situation, which 

 we give, not on our own authority*, but fully be- 

 lieving it, corroborated, as it may in a manner be 

 said to be, by the proofs of confidence already given. 

 A few years ago, a pair of Robins took up their 

 abode in the parish church of Hampton, in War- 

 wickshire, and affixed their nest to the church 

 Bible, as it lay on the reading-desk. The vicar 

 would not allow the birds to be disturbed, and 

 therefore supplied himself with another Bible, 

 from which he read the lessons of the service. A 

 similar instance occurred at Collingbourne Kingston 

 Church, in Wiltshire, on the 13th of April, 1834: 

 the clerk, on looking out for the lessons of the 

 day, perceived something under the Bible in the 

 reading-desk, and in a hollow place, occasioned by 

 the Bible's resting on a raised ledge, found a Robin's 

 nest, containing two eggs. The bird, not having 

 been disturbed, laid four more, which were hatched 

 on the 4th of May. The still more extraordinary 

 part of the story is, that the cock -bird actually 

 brought food in its bill, and fed the young brood 

 during divine service, which is performed twice 

 every Sunday; and it is further highly creditable to 

 the parishioners, particularly the junior portion of 

 them, that the birds were never molested, and not 

 an attempt ever suspected to be made on the nest, 

 and eggs, deposited in so hallowed a spot. 



* Nat. Hist. Mag., No. 31. 



