a n d after e a t i n g h e a r t i l y , a g a i n r e t u r n e d to the mast h e a d . By the
t i m e the vessel had been two days at sea, t h e y became m u c h more
f a m i l i a r , and d e s c e n d e d b o l d l y for the p u r p o s e of feeding. The
v o y a g e was a l o n g one, l a s t i n g for some d a y s , w h e n on r e a c h i n g the
R i v e r T y n e , to w h i c h t h e y w e r e b o u n d , the nest w i t h four y o u ng
o n e s was c a r e f u l l y taken down, and b e i n g put in t h e c r e v i c e of a
r u i n e d house on the b a n k s of the r i v e r , t h e y c o n t i n u e d to r e a r t h e ir
b r o o d .
W h e n thus upon the subject of young Span-ows, we may direct
a t t e n t i o n to t h e v e r y r a p i d g r o w t h of their feathers in hot w e a t h e r.
I n the m o n t h of A u g u s t , a y o u n g one was t a k e n from a n e s t , w i th
n e i t h e r down nor feathers upon it, the r u d i m e n t s only of p l u m a ge
b e i n g visible u n d e r the s k i n , on the b a c k of t h e h e a d , a n d a l o n g the
b a c k ; on the sides of the w i n g s , the shafts of the q u i l l s had j u st
p i e r c e d the skin. Eight days after, a n o t h e r y o u n g one was taken
f r om the same nest, c o v e r e d w i t h f e a t h e r s , a n d able to m a k e some
use of its wings. Another c i r c u m s t a n c e is w o r t h y of n o t i c e . The
o l d ones had a d a p t e d the food to t h e i r p o w e r s of d i g e s t i o n . The
s t o m a c h of the first was w e a k , a n d filled almost e n t i r e l y w i t h i n s e c t s,
o n l y one g r a i n of wheat and a few of sand b e i n g found. In the
s e c o n d , the g i z z a r d was become v a s t l y more m u s c u l a r , and cont
a i n e d nine g r a i n s of wheat whole, b e s i d e s some smaller p i e c e s , the
r e m a i n s of s e v e r a l b e e t l e s , a n d some l a r g e r g r a v e l s t o n e s .'
A n o t h e r s i n g u l a r s i t u a t i o n s e l e c t e d by t h e s e b i r d s for their nest,
was in a t h o r n b u s h , stuck, as one sometimes sees d o n e , at t h e top
of a c h i m n e y , e i t h e r as a p r e v e n t i v e of s m o k i n g , or to check the
i n g r e s s of any c r e a t u r e , a n d a l t h o u g h it h a p p e n e d to be a k i t c h en
c h i m n e y , and smoke was i s s u i n g f r om it t h r o u g h o u t the -whole day,
t h e r e t h e y c o m p l e t e d t h e i r w o r k s of n i d i f i c a t i o n , i n c u b a t i o n , and prob
a b l y of e d u c a t i o n . Occasionally a h e d g e is b u i l t in. One nest has
b e e n found in a p a s s a g e w h e r e s e r v a n t s were c o n s t a n t l y p a s s i n g and
r e p a s s i n g .
I am informed by C l a u d e A. L i l l i n g s t o n , E s q . , of t h e C h a u n t r y,
I p s w i c h , that he has f o u n d the nest of a S p a r r o w in the o u t s i d e of
thai of a S p a r r o w - H a w k — a s i n g u l a r l o c a l i t y w i t h r e f e r e n c e b o t h to t he
n a m e a n d n a t u r e of t h e b i r d . ' W h e t h e r , ' he o b s e r v e s , ' t h e H a w k was
k e e p i n g t h e m till t h e y i n c r e a s e d in size, or w h e t h e r he h a d come to
t e r m s of p e a c e with t h e m , I do not k n o w . ' They also often build
b e n e a t h t h e nests of t h e R o o k s , w i t h w h o s e h a b i t s t h e y h a v e n o t h i ng
i n common, m a k i n g this use of t h e i r s t r u c t u r e s as a defence for
t h e m s e l v e s , a n d also m a n i f e s t i n g t h e i r s a g a c i o u s a n x i e t y arid c o n t r i v a n ce
for the safety of their own b r o o d s ; sometimes also in the nests
themselves after the young have flown. Frequently too they serve
an action of ejectment against the Martins, take forcible possession
of the nests they have so laboriously constructed for their young,
and thus is 'Love's labour lost.' Some have been known to build
their nests in the holes made by Sand Martins in the side of a claypit,
using, contrary to their usual custom, but a small quantity of
materials, adopting probably the arrangement they found ready for
them; possibly too in such a situation the materials they ordinarily
use in abundance might not have been readily procurable.
The following appeared in the 'Glasgow Argus* in May, 1840:—
' Last week on the Aurora leaving the Bromiclaw for Belfast, a
Sparrow's nest was discovered in the rigging; but the birds did not
choose on that occasion to accompany their nest to the Green Isle.
On the return of the vessel, however, the Sparrows again visited their
former abode, which had not been disturbed by the voyage, and
deposited an egg in it, which attached them so much to it, that they
valorously left their native land and sailed with the Aurora for
Ireland.' 'The nest,1 Mr. Thompson adds, 'rested partly on the sail,
and was destroyed by its being unfurled, when containing one or two
eggs. The vessel was accustomed to sail every second day from
Glasgow to Belfast.'
I must, however, differ from Mr. Thompson's opinion as to the
honesty of the Sparrow with regard to his neighbour's dwelling. I
fear that the 'Appropriation Clause' will be found on record among
his 'Acts,' and leave a deserved stigma on his reputation.
The Sparrow pairs early in the season, and two or three broods
are reared each year. A pair built a nest, and laid several eggs, at
Markle, near East Linton, about the 15th. of December, 1842; a
nest was found at Darley Abbey, near Derby, on the 20th. of
December in the same year, containing four eggs; and on the 22nd.
of the following February one was observed building its nest in the
spout of the school-room at the same place, by Robert John Bell, Esq.,
of Micklcover House, near Derby. Sometimes, and not very rarely,
I believe even four broods have been known to be produced in the
same year. The young birds often come abroad before they are well
able to provide by effective flight for their security, and thus individuals
arc frequently either pushed accidentally from the nests, or
lose their footing and totter over, falling to the ground. Almost
as soon as they arc partially able to take care of themselves, they
arc attended by the male alone, and the female prepares again for
a new family. As soon as the nest is ready, the first brood are
left to themselves, but they still remain about the premises, roosting