Ground the House 



Well known to man, bird and beast alike is 

 their loud chattering alarm note, " spink ! spink ! 

 spink ! " which causes the rabbits, if they are out 

 feeding, to prick up their ears, or sends them 

 scuttling to their holes. Familiar, too, are its 

 flute-like notes, though some have difficulty at 

 first in distinguishing them from those of the 

 Thrush. The difference is, however, well marked 

 and easy to master, for the Thrush begins to sing 

 earlier in the year than his rival. That is the 

 time to learn his wild, loud notes, and, when the 

 Blackbird tunes up, there will then be no danger 

 of mistaking his mellower tones. 



The modest little Hedge Sparrow creeps 

 quietly about the flower beds, uttering a 

 "cheeping" note, or ascends to the top of a 

 shrub to warble forth a pleasing, if short and 

 feeble song. It is easy enough to overlook its 

 efforts in the springtime, when more beautiful 

 songsters are in full chorus, but it deserves our 

 gratitude for enlivening the dull winter months 

 with its cheery trill. 



The nest and four or five turquoise blue eggs, 

 when artistically set off by a lining of red cow- 

 hair, form one of the most beautiful sights of the 

 kind a sight often to be seen in a yew hedge or 

 thick shrub, a gorse bush, or even a bundle of 

 faggots, for such are some of the situations 

 commonly chosen by this unobtrusive little 

 builder. In a framework of twigs and roots the 



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