THE HOUSE-SPARROW. 181 
the whole. But to our surprise there were none, 
The hay was therefore carefully removed, that 
the martins, if they pleased, might retake pos- 
session ; but the very next day, the nests were 
again filled with hay, and long bents of it hung 
dangling from the entrance-hole. ‘The sparrows 
had, with wonderful assiduity, and, as it were, 
with a feeling of vindictive spite, relined the nests 
with as much hay as they ordinarily carry to their 
own nests in several days. Now it was supposed 
they would really lay in these nests, but no such 
thing,—they never did. Their only object had 
been to dislodge the martins, for it was found that 
these very sparrows had nests of their own in the 
water-spouts of the house, with young ones in them, 
at the very time, and their purpose of ousting the 
martins from their own nests being accomplished, 
the hay remained in the nests quietly all summer. 
But this was not all. The poor martins, driven 
from the stable, came now to the house; and, as 
if for special protection, began to build their nests 
under the roof, nearly over the front door. No 
sooner was this intention discovered by the spar- 
rows, than they were all in arms again. They 
R 
