Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

A Pair of House-Martins, and What
They Accomplished

They Accomplished
Letter to the London Spectator.
Even in the midst OF the education con-
troversy some of your readers may be in
terested to hear Of minor controversy
which has been taking place between my
self and two little High Wycombe worker s
namely. pair of house martins
The point in dispute has been the site of
their house for this year. A martins nest
has been built Immediately over the porch
of my house for the last three years, but,
owing to the litter on the doorstep. deter
mined this year to prevent its being built,
and thought it kinder not to allow the birds
to build the whole nest. but to remove the
first beginnings and thus persuade the lit
creatures to choose in good time another
site for their house. little foresaw the pro
tracted struggle for which ! had entered
which the following dates will show. On
May Is l first noticed that a large piece
of the old homestead had been rebuilt.
This at once assaled with a walking
stick to the natural resentment of the lit
tie builders, who screamed fiercely, but did
not attempt to rebuild that day. Since
then 1t has been trial of strength be-
tween these plucky little birds and the big
human being. showing think Some power
of strategy the part of the former and
part of the latter. From May IA to ~
there were daily buildings and distractions.
On May 20 the nest was destroyed at am.
and at II am "A large piece was again
built. This l did not touch: but, notwitl-
standing, on May 81 and p no building took
place. From the I'D to the Both the nest
was built and destroyed daily. On the alst
1t was built but not destroyed. and, strange
to say. no building took place for week
On June building again began, and con-
tinued to the 10th, after which, from June
II to 30 nothing was built, and fondiy
imagined the struggle was over ana tlat
the birds had recognized discretion as the
better part of valor, and wisely chosen
another sphere for their operations. But.
alasi on looking out of my window tins
morning (6 am. July u | found new
mud wall erected, and my first work mus.
be one of destruction.
The interesting point to decide Is; Is II
invincible determination or inVinclpie ighor-
ance on the part of these small 1elioW-
creatures? The long spaces OF time az
lowed to pass between some OF the DulidlttS
operations would seem to show their wish
to persuade me that they had given up all
intention of building in the debated spot,
and thus throw me off my guard SO that
they could return to the attack unobSerVed
On the other hand their coming back DIT
all seems to point to some lack OF lnteiii-
gence on their part in approaching tEe
forces arrayed against them IN the DIG
human being with the strong Will and the
stick Or perhaps after all, they may be
cleverer than appears, and may nave gauged
quite accurately the weak place IN the
big human beings position-naIneiy, the
soft spot in the heart. which could not re-
sist the appeal of their courageous sticking
to their guns in spite of so much discour-
agement. For now-at p.m.-the walking
stick is still in the hall, and l am looking
with undisgused admiration at my small
assailants busily building; and l should not
be surprised il the martins had their nest
for fourth year over my pofch