NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
there had been one less English sparrow. 
But he gained his own domicile safely, and 
there the red-head drummed and screamed 
in impotent rage. I sup- 
posed she was driving a 
hole through the thin 
boards into his 
nest, but she ap- 
parently con- 
tented herself 
with frightening 
him and his babies 
into a series of 
spasms. 
Meanwhile the 
father returned 
and fed the young- 
sters, retired to his usual seat on the top, 
and began his customary squawking. As 
soon as the mother saw him, she left the 
sparrow and took her place near him for an 
instant, just long enough to tell him, of the 
outrage, then went into her own nest. But 
the moment that sparrow left the eaves she 
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