288 BIIWS IN LONDON 



for most of the time withcnit a pereli ; l)iU we 

 see that even in districts where trees are few 

 and far between the sparrows' meeting-place 

 or ' chapel ' is invariably a tree. The young 

 sparrow has not yet acquired this convenient 

 habit of the adults ; he is a tree sparrow, 

 incapable of sitting quietly, like the young 

 swallow or martin, on a roof or ledge to be fed 

 there by the parent birds. His perching feet 

 must lay hold of something ; and when he can- 

 not, so to speak, anchor himself he is ill at ease, 

 even on the wide surface of a flat roof, and 

 fidgets and hops this way and that, possibly 

 experiencing a sensation as of faUing or of 

 being thrown off his stand. It is to escape 

 from this unsuitable flat surface that he flutters 

 or flies ofl' and comes down. This happens 

 when no tree stands conveniently near ; when 

 there is a tree beneath or close by the young 

 sparrow makes for it instinctively, as a duckling 

 to water; and if he succeeds in reacliing it he 

 shows at once tliat he has found relief, and is 

 content to remain where lie is. It is most 

 interesting to watch a l)roo(l of young sparrows 

 just out of the nest setthnii down on the top- 

 most twigs of a tree, wliicli lliey Imve been 



