34 
THE REDBREAST. 
when others, forming the school-library, within the 
same frame-work, would have equally suited the 
purpose. 
Another nest was constructed, and for two successive 
years, in a still more extraordinary situation, which 
we give, not on our own authority' 7 ', hut fully be- 
lieving it, corroborated, as it may in a manner be 
said to he, by the proofs of confidence already given. 
A few years ago, a pair of Robins took up their 
abode in the parish church of Hampton, in War- 
wickshire, and affixed their nest to the church 
Bible, as it lay on the reading-desk. The vicar 
would not allow the birds to be disturbed, and 
therefore supplied himself with another Bible, 
from which he read the lessons of the service. A 
similar instance occurred at Collingbourne Kingston 
Church, in Wiltshire, on the 13th of April, 1834 : 
the clerk, on looking out for the lessons of the 
day, perceived something under the Bible in the 
reading-desk, and in a hollow place, occasioned by 
the Bible’s resting on a raised ledge, found a Robin’s 
nest, containing two eggs. The bird, not having 
been disturbed, laid four more, which were hatched 
on the 4th of May. The still more extraordinary 
part of the story is, that the cock-bird actually 
brought food in its bill, and fed the young brood 
during divine service, which is performed twice 
every Sunday; and it is further highly creditable to 
the parishioners, particularly the junior portion of 
them, that the birds were never molested, and not 
an attempt ever suspected to be made on the nest, 
and eggs, deposited in so hallowed a spot. 
* Nat. Hist . Mag., No. 31. 
