The Birds' Calendar 



honored in tlie breach than in tlie observance, 

 I looked neither to the right hand nor to the 

 left, trusting, and not in vain, that kind fortune 

 would preserve me from constaljulary inter- 

 ference. At its best estate it is only an indif- 

 ferent singer, but it made a full display of its 

 physical charms — the top of the head and large 

 patches on the wings of rich yellow, with bluish 

 back, jet-black throat, and a black strijje on the 

 side of the face, bordered with white — a brill- 

 iant creature as it fluttered hither and thither, 

 either for ecstasy or for insects. 



After such daintiness what could look more 

 ignoble than the dirty and detestable English 

 sparrows? Imported from Europe to wage a 

 certain local and vermicular warfare, in the 

 estimation of competent judges the remedy has 

 proved infinitely worse than the malady. Of 

 more than doubtful utility, but with unparalleled 

 fecundity and audacity, like some contagious 

 disease they are spreading over the country, 

 to the disgust of all who know their worthless, 

 impudent, and quarrelsome nature. Clumsy, 

 pugnacious, coarse-looking and coarser-voiced, 

 ever washing and never clean, making a vulgar 

 show of refinement by inveterately wiping their 

 mouths — v/hich ceases to be a virtue when it 



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