777";? TREE SPARROW. 197 



do good sorTice in destroying tho earwigs atid other pests that hide 

 among the petals of tho dahlias, polyanthu-^es, and otlier plants. They 

 also devotfr large quantities oE slugs and snails. 



Tho note of the Sparrow is a monotonous and rather harsh and 

 shrill chirp; when a number of individuals aro collected on a tree or 

 house-top, the otfoct of their united voices is by no means agreeable 

 to the ears of man, although thoy themselves for aught we know may 

 regard the result of their eilorts as most harmonious and delightful. 



A curious anecdote of the Sparrow is related in the "Naturalist's 

 Magazine." — "A lady, living in Chelsea, was extremely fond of birds, 

 of which she kept a considerable number in cages. Amongst others 

 she had a Canary, which was a particular favourite, but the loudness 

 of his note often obliged her to put him outside of her window, in 

 some trees which were trained up in the front of her house. One 

 morning, during breakfast, wlieu the cage was there placed, a Sparrow 

 was observed to fly round about it, then perch upon the top, and 

 twitter to the bird within, between whom and itself a sort of conver- 

 sation seemed to ensue. After a few moments he flew away, but 

 returned in a short time, bearing a worm or small grub in his bill, 

 which he dropped into tho cage, and immediately flew away. Similar 

 presents were received day after day, at tho same time, by the Canary 

 from his friend the Sparrow, with whom at length he became so 

 intimate that he very often received the food thus brought into his 

 own bill from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance attracted the 

 notice of the lady's neighbours, who often watched these daily visits; 

 and some of them, to try tho extent of the Sparrow's kindness, also 

 hung their birds out at the window, when they found them also fed; 

 but the first aud longest visit was always paid by tho Sparrow to his 

 original friend." 



THE TREE SPAJIHOW, 



{Passer ?iwn/anus.) 

 PT.ATK XII. FIGDRE VII. 



Thk Tree or Mountain Sparrow very closely resembles tho common 

 species, but may be very readily distinguished by its smaller size. 

 It is a common bird in Holland, France, Spain, and Italy, and is 



