186 THE S2IJLLER BPdTISII BIRDS. 



"He dotli follow us 

 From spot to spot, amidst tlie turbulent town, 

 And ne'er deserts us. To all other birds 

 The woods suffice, the rivers, the sweet fields, 

 And nature in her aspect mute and fair; 

 But he doth herd with man. 

 Untiring follower! what doth chain thee hereP 

 What bonds 'tween thee and man? Thy food the same 

 As tbeirs who wing the woods, — thy voice ns wild, 

 Tliy wants, thy power the same; we nothing do 

 To serve thee, and few love thee; yet thou hangst 

 About our dwelliiigs, like some humble friend. 

 Whom custom and kind thoughts do link to u.s. 

 And no neglect can banish." 



Tlie Tree Sparrow is cliiefly confined to some of the mid]an(5 and 

 northern counties of England. Contrary to the habit of its more 

 plentiful relation, it seems rather to avoid the neighbourhood of towns 

 and villages, and to prefer wild hilly and mountainous districts. Both 

 of these birds feed on seeds and grain, but their depredations on the 

 latter are amply compensated by their whole.sale destruction of insects, 

 especially when they are rearing their young. They breed several times 

 in a season, building rather rude and loosely-compacted nests, but 

 lining them plentifully with leathers and other soft materials. 



