80 The Flouse Sparrow. 
a dispute settled Ao by noise than by force ; while 
other Sparrows sitting in trees or on houses close by, 
are either too lazy to move, or else they have been in 
the same kind of thing before and know exactly how 
it will be settled, only give a note now and then, as if 
to say, “ Enough, enough ;” but in most cases, all the 
Sparrows that are near join in the riot. 
These birds are always in company, either with their 
mate or else in flocks. During the time of nesting the 
male House Sparrow sits on the eggs in turn, so that 
the female can have a little recreation as well as him- 
self ; and when the young are hatched, both the parent 
birds take a part in rearing their offspring. The nest, 
if wholly built by them, is composed of rough hay and 
straw outside, lined with feathers and such other warm 
materials as they can find near. The number of eggs 
usually laid is five or six. Many likely places for their 
nests might be mentioned. When thatched cottages 
were in use more than they are now, these birds selected 
them as favourite homes, and any one having ivy 
growing over his house knows well enough that it is a 
chosen place. _ In roofs of houses, or in trees close by 
cottages or farm-yards—in fact, anywhere near the 
habitation of man, some six or eight yards high, or 
