Many people suppose that the instinct of birds and animals is never
wrong, but this is a mistake. I have often seen the wild geese fly north
over the western prairies only to come squawking back in a few days, to
linger with us, if not going farther south, until the sun warmed up the
northland and they dared another flight.
Once my brother witnessed a most amusing case of mistaken judgment among
birds. He had opened a store in a northern town, and during the month of
March was much discouraged by the continued cold weather.
“O! but spring’s here!” exclaimed his partner gleefully one bleak day.
“See those sparrows building a nest in our eaves? That’s a sure sign!”
From that day on the two young men took great interest in the new home
going up under—or rather over—their very eyes. Each new bit of rag or
straw woven in was noted, and they even strewed cotton about in handy
places for the birds to use as “carpeting in the mansion.”
But the weather did not improve, in spite of the sparrow’s prophecy;
instead of that, a sleet set in one night, and morning saw a most
wintry-looking earth. When the young men went down to open up the store
for business, they heard loud, really angry, chirping coming from the
eaves. Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow were discussing something with energy, and
when at last a decision was reached they both swooped down upon their
almost finished nest and tore it all to pieces. Not one twig or rag or
straw was left in place. When the destruction was complete they gave a
loud chirp of satisfaction and flew off together, never to return.
They had simply made a mistake in their calendar.
Lee McCrae.