THE HOUSE-SPARROW. 179 
this bird. You see him build his nest amongst 
the richest tracery of a church roof or window ; 
within the very coronet or escutcheon set up over 
the gate of hall or palace. We saw this summer, 
the hay and litter of his nest hanging out from 
the richly-cut initial-letters of William and Mary 
over one of the principal windows of Hampton 
Court. Nay he would build in a span-new V. R. 
set up only yesterday, or in the queen’s very crown 
itself though it were worth a kingdom, if it were 
only conveniently placed for his purpose. He 
thinks nothing too good for him. 
But the most provoking part of his character 
is, the pleasure which he takes in teasing, mo- 
lesting and hectoring over birds of the most quiet 
and inoffensive nature. He builds about your 
houses, and thinks no other bird has any busi- 
ness to do the same, The martin, which loves 
to build under the eaves of our dwellings, after 
crossing the seas from some far country,— has 
especially to bear his insolence and aggressions. 
There is a pretty story in the “Evenings at 
? 
Home,” of two of these interesting birds,* who 
had their nest usurped by a Sparrow, getting 
