164 Hillside. 



discovered the nest. Thinking it a pity to disturb her 

 constantly, as I was so often passing her nest, I in future 

 began to speak to her in a kind tone of voice when some six 

 or eight paces from her nest, and continued so speaking 

 until I had passed her. Though she would fly out when 

 any one else passed even the gardener she never left her 

 nest again when I passed. As the days went on I would 

 stop opposite the nest and talk to her, daily going nearer to 

 her, until at last I would separate the rose leaves with both 

 hands, and talk to her from a distance of about eight 

 inches sometimes less. But the storms came, the nails 

 gave way, and the rose bush and nest were detached from 

 the wall. She could sit still on her nest, but another storm 

 would probably have wrecked it. Armed with hammer, 

 nails and list, I proceeded to repair the damage. At first I 

 spoke to her in the usual way, then drawing a little to one 

 side, I raised the hammer as high as my mouth to let her 

 see it, when she at once flew out, alighting on a shrub about 

 four yards off. She watched my every movement while I was 

 securing her nest, and I would turn about occasionally to 

 speak to her. In time four little birds came out. After 

 they were half grown I seldom found her on the nest, 

 but she was never far away, as, after talking to her little 

 ones, I would generally find her sitting near, with food in 

 her mouth, when I turned round. At last they all dis- 

 appeared, and for, I think, about two months, my little 

 chaffinch was but a pleasant memory, and I never expected 

 to see her again, as this was to be my last year in Ireland. 

 But it was not so. Here it is necessary to explain that on 

 passing along the path where the nest was to my house, 

 there was a railing in line with the path, and opposite the 



