OUR HOME BIRDS. 
309 
your nests in the wrong way. The first object is to 
find a good, strong, forked branch, and upon that 
you lay your foundation by placing two sticks across 
each other, thus . 5 
“ ‘ Any one might have known that !’ said the 
jackdaw. 
“ Taking no notice of the interruption, the profes- 
sor proceeded : ‘ On these cross-sticks you then place 
seven or eight others, interweaving them, as you see 
me doing, until you have a solid floor on which you 
can jump without throwing it down, so.’ 
“ ‘ I shall not stop any longer to listen to this 
nonsense/ said the jackdaw ; ‘ I knew all that long 
ago.’ 
“ The starling coincided with him, and the two 
went oif together, thinking themselves uncommonly 
wise. 
“ 4 Now/ resumed the professor, 1 comes a neat 
piece of workmanship ; and remember to watch me 
carefully while I show you how it is done. You 
take some slender twigs this time, and insinuate 
them among the rough ends of your platform, and 
then, working one into the other, you raise the sides 
of the nest, or when you are married and come to 
have a family your children will tumble over as 
soon as they begin to walk; and what will their 
mothers say then?’ 
