LONDON'S LITTLE BIRDS 109 



London home he grew up to be a handsome 

 bird, brighter in plumage than our cock 

 sparrows usually seem, even in the West-end 

 parks. He was strongly attached to his mistress, 

 and liked to play with and to be caressed by 

 her ; when she sat at work he would perch con- 

 tentedly by her side by the half-hour chirruping 

 his sparrow- music, interspersed with a few notes 

 borrowed from caged songsters. He displayed a 

 marked interest in her dress and ornaments, and 

 appeared to take pleasure in richly coloured 

 silks and satins, and in gold and precious stones. 

 But all these things did not please him in the 

 same degree, and the sight of some ornaments 

 actually angered him : he would scold and peck 

 at the brooch or necklace, or whatever it was, 

 which he did not like, and if no notice was 

 taken at first, he would work himself into a 

 violent rage, and the offensive jewel would have 

 to be taken off and put out of sight. He also 

 had his likes and dislikes among the inmates 

 and guests in the house. He would allow me 

 to sit by him for an hour, taking no notice, but 

 if I made any advance he would ruffle up his 

 plumage, and tell me in his unmistakable 

 sparrow-language to keep my distance. Once 



