340 Animal Life 
further down the road. TI protested greatly, as I wanted*to rear our brood in the man’s 
garden, where I felt sure we should be safe,—at least from human persecution—but 
nothing availed; she would have her own way. ‘To my consolation, however, I would 
not do a stroke of work to help her, and rambled off on my own. 
Insects are beginning to get plentiful again, and I went off to hunt my favourite trees 
in the man’s garden. There, sure enough, I found things going to rack and ruin; some 
of the gooseberry bushes were simply swarming with caterpillars. In the orchard things 
were in much the same condition; but a pair of long-tailed tits, who had built their 
nest in a furze bush, were hard at work foraging. On coming round to the lawn I saw 
something new. On several of the trees were fastencd boxes with a hole cut in the 
front, and as I sat wondering what they might be for I saw a starling fly out of one. 
“At least if cannot be a trap,’ I said, and I forthwith proceeded to fly round and 
investigate. The boxes were of different sizes, and had various-sized entrances; in one 
were a few pieces of straw—this was the one from which I had seen the starling fly. 
In another was a robin’s nest, half finished. ‘‘ Here we are,’ I thought, “just the very 
thing!” and I inspected the remaining boxes carefully. Of them all, the best one to 
my mind was fixed to the big elm tree, about six feet from the ground. 
I hastily returned to Josephine and told her about it. She pooh-poohed the idea, 
but was evidently curious, and at last agreed to come and look. Albeit she pretended 
not to think much of it, I could see she was delighted, and in the afternoon she 
said of her own free will (I had learned by this time that it is more politic to let 
her make suggestions), ‘“‘We shall have to give up this place; several boys saw me 
after you left this morning, and I heard them talking about cages and traps.” I 
behaved well, did not move a muscle, though I admit I grinned imwardly. I could 
see she wanted me to suggest going into the man’s garden, but I was equally determined 
that the suggestion should come from her. And in the end it did! 
Just as it began to grow dusk she started off without a word, and made straight 
for the elm tree, entered the box, and remained there for quite a long time. Then 
she came out and, without a look or sign of approval, went straight to our old 
roosting-place under the eaves. 
May 2nd—I must have overslept myself this morning, for when I awoke it was 
broad daylight, and madame was gone. I flew up into the fir tree to preen myself, 
and looking towards the elm I saw her fly into the box with a beakful of moss! 
After breakfast she seemed much better-tempered (I hope she will never read this), 
and invited me to help her, even going so far as to allow me to place some of the 
materials in position. 
Whilst we were both inside the box I heard a noise, and flying out, who should 
I see but the man and his woman, standing close to us watching the box. Now I 
was not in the least bit alarmed, since I knew I could trust him—even when he had 
that gun—and | just called out and told Josephine who it was and went off to gather 
more moss. He and the woman were still standing there when I returned, and they 
remained for a long time watching us—not very good manners I thought, to stare so 
hard. At first Josephine was a little perturbed, but she soon got as fearless as I was, 
and took no more notice of them than if they had been a couple of posts. 
In the afternoon Parus major loafed up and wanted to inspect the nest. “No, you 
don’t,” I said, ‘‘an Mnglishman’s house is his castle; Dll see you drowned first.” Of 
course, he is much stouter built than I am, and twice my weight; but if he had not 
decamped I would very soon have proved to him that “pluck” has to be reckoned with 
as well as brute force. 
May 10th—We have been awfully busy the last few days; the nest is practically 
finished, and is, I think, a model one in every respect. Every day the man and his 
