COCK ROBIN'S MURDERER 79 



be brown with sparrows. Thus the crow is not an 

 unmixed evil. But, in spite of his natural enemies the 

 sparrow is a very fortunate bird. His impudence and 

 " push " enable him to find food in places into which 

 more timid creatures fear to venture. His very com- 

 monness is a blessing to him. It saves him from being 

 caught and caged. 



A sparrow, as such, has no market value. It is true 

 that he is sometimes caught, painted yellow, and 

 passed off on some innocent as a canary. But even 

 when this happens his captivity is not of long duration. 

 His happy purchaser takes him home and gives him a 

 bath, when lo ! the homely brown begins to show 

 through the dye. This is a sad calamity for the owner, 

 but a joy to the sparrow, for it means his liberation. 

 His little cage is opened, and he takes to his wings, 

 chirruping with delight to find himself free once more, 

 and vows that never again will he be such a fool as to 

 be caught by bird-lime. 



