in a short time, bearing a worm or small grub in his bill, which
he dropped into the cage, and immediately flew away. Similar
presents were received day after day, at the same time, by the Canary,
from his friend the Sparrow, with whom, at length, he became so
intimate, that he very often received the food thus brought into his
own bill, from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance attracted the
notice of the lady's neighbours, who often watched these daily visits;
and some of them, to try the extent of the Sparrow's kindness, also hung
their birds out at the window, when they found them also fed, but
the first and longest visit was always paid by the Sparrow to his original
friend, the Canary. Though thus intimate and social with his own kind,
it was observed that this Sparrow was exceedingly shy and timid with
respect to human beings, for, though many were witnesses to the above,
they were obliged to keep at a distance, and use great caution, otherwise
he immediately flew away. This attention was carried on through the
summer, and extended to the beginning of autumn, when the visits
entirely ceased, whether intentionally on the part of the Sparrow, or
that he met with some accident, could not be ascertained.'
' That they will attend to their young, far beyond the usual period,
in case of necessity, the following anecdotes will prove, though we
believe many, if not most birds, will do the same under similar circumstances;
the experiment may be easily tried, by slightly tying the
wings of young birds, when nearly fledged, or confining them by a
thread to the bottom of the nest, taking care not to injure them.'
Even, however, with any amount of care, I would not wish to see
this done, even though but for a short time, as needless anxiety at
all events would be caused both to the old and the young bird.
(A pair of Sparrows,' says -Air. Graves, 'had built their nest in
a wall close to my house. I noticed that the old birds continued to
bring food to the nest some time after the brood had left it. I had
the curiosity to place a ladder against the wall, and looked into the
nest, when, to my surprise, I found a full-grown bird which had
got its leg entangled in some thread, which formed part of the nest,
in such a manner as to prevent its leaving it with the rest. Wishing
to see how much longer the old birds would feed their imprisoned
offspring, I left the young one as I found it, and observed that the
parents supplied it, during the whole of the autumn and part of the
winter months; but the weather setting in cold very soon after
Christmas, 1 was afraid it would kill the young Sparrow, and therefore
disengaged its leg. In a day or two it went with the old ones
in search of food, but they continued to feed it till March, and during
the whole time they all nestled in the same spot.'
In the first volume of the 'Zoological Journal,' in a note to
the fourteenth page, it is stated that a pair of Sparrows, which had
built in the thatched roof of a house, were observed to continue their
regular visits to the nest long after the time when the young birds
ought naturally to have taken flight. This unusual circumstance continued
throughout the year, and in the winter, a gentleman who all
along had observed them, determined on finding out the cause. He
therefore placed a ladder, and, on mounting, found one of the young
ones detained a prisoner by means of a string or scrap of worsted,
which formed part of the nest, having become accidentally twisted
round its leg. Being thus disabled from procuring its own living,
it had been fed by the continued exertions of the parents.
The flight of the Sparrow is undulated and rather rapid, but if
only made for a short distance, nearly direct with a continued
fluttering motion. On the ground it advances by hops and leaps,
both long and short.
The food of the well-known bird before us consists of insects,
grain, and seeds, as also indeed of almost anything eatable that
comes in its way; I have seen the seeds of the privet eaten with
great contentment. Sometimes it pursues a butterfly or other insect
on the wing, but it is not very expert as a fly-catcher: nevertheless,
from what I have myself noticed, I would rather not be a fly
pursued by a Sparrow on the wing. It may be seen in menageries
fearlessly feeding among birds and beasts of all possible descriptions.
It feeds its young for a time with soft fruits, young vegetables, and
insects, particularly caterpillars. It is itself good eating.
Much has been written on the question of the comparative usefulness,
or the contrary, of the Sparrow, as a devourer of the formernamed
food on the one hand, or of the latter on the other; and
much I suppose one may allow is to be said on each side of the
question, as so much has been said; but there can I think be no doubt
but that the harm they may do, even granting it to be considerable,
is compensated, and more than compensated, by that which they prevent.
Mr. John Hawley, of Doncastcr, has sensibly argued the question
in the 'Zoologist,' and thus states the case at page 2349:—'1 have
watched pairs of Sparrows repeatedly feeding their young, and have
found that they bring food to the nest once in ten minutes, during
at least six hours of the twenty-four, and that each time from two
to six caterpillars are brought—every naturalist will know this to be
under the mark. Now, suppose the 'three thousand five hundred
Sparrows' destroyed by the 'Association for killing Sparrows,' were
to have been alive the next spring, each pair to have built a nest,
and reared successive broods of young, during three months, we have,
VOL. II. 2 II