242 Birds. 
of a house, often against a perpendicular wall : without 
any projecting ledge to support any part of the nest, its 
utmost efforts are necessary to get the first foundation 
firmly fixed, so as to carry the superstructure safely. On 
this occasion, it not only clings with its claws, but partly 
supports itself by strongly inclining its tail against the 
wall, making that a fulcrum ; and thus fixed, it plasters 
the materials into the face of the brick or stone. But 
that this work may not, while soft, sink by its own weight, 
the provident architect has the prudence and forbear- 
ance not to proceed too fast ; but by building only in the 
morning, and dedicating the rest of the day to food and 
amusement, he gives it sufficient time to dry and harden. 
By this method, in about ten days, the nest is formed, 
strong, compact, and warm, and perfectly fitted for all 
the purposes for which it is intended. But nothing is 
more common than for the house-sparrow, as soon as 
the shell is finished, to seize on it, eject the owner, and 
line it according to its own peculiar manner. Sometimes, 
however, the Martins prove too clever for the sparrow ; 
when the intruder obstinately retained possession of the 
nest, the Martins have been known to collect from all 
parts of the neighbourhood, each bringing a pellet of 
mud, with which the orifice of the nest was soon securely 
closed, and the unfortunate sparrow was then left to die 
of starvation. The Martin will return for several seasons 
to the same nest, where it happens to be well sheltered 
and secured from the injuries of the weather. They 
breed the latest of all our swallows, often having un- 
fledged young ones even so late as Michaelmas. 
The first hatch consists of five eggs, which are white, 
inclining to dusky at the thicker end ; the second, of three 
or four ; and of a third, of only two or three. While the 
young birds are confined to the nest the parents feed 
them, adhering by the claws to the outside; but as soon 
as they are able to fly they receive their nourishment 
on the wing, by a quick and almost imperceptible motion. 
* Welcome, welcome, feathered stranger, 
Now the sun bids Nature smile ; 
Safe arrived and free from danger, 
Welcome to our blooming isle." Franklin. 
