106 BIBDS IN LONDON 



have risen to sucli a position, to have occupied, 

 nay conquered, London, and made its human 

 inhabitants food-providers to his nation ; and, 

 fniall}', to have kept his possession so long 

 without any decay of his pristine vigour, despite 

 the unhealthy conditions. He does not receive, 

 nor does he need, that fresh blood from the 

 country which we poor human creatures must 

 have, or else perish in the course of a very few 

 generations. Nor does he require change of air. 

 It is commonly said that ' town sparrows ' 

 migrate to the fields in summer, to feast on 

 corn ' in the milk,' and this is true of our birds 

 in the outlying suburbs, who live in sight of the 

 fields ; farther in, the sparrow never leaves his 

 London home. I know that my sparrows — a 

 few dozen that breed and live under my eyes — 

 never see the country, nor any park, square, or 

 other open space. 



The luirdiness and adaptiveness of the l)ir(l 

 must both be great to enable it to keep its 

 health and streuLith tli rough tlie gloom and 

 dai'kness of London winters. There is no doubt 

 thai many of oui* caged birds would perish at 

 ihis season if tliey did not feed by gas or candle 

 light. When thev do not so feed it is found 



