PERCHING BIRDS. 115 
rence, and that he in the preseuce of several individuals, 
some of whom he named, took the dead bird out of the 
nest. The truth of it is further confirmed by Mr. John 
Ray, nailer, in Linlithgow, who told me he was also 
present when it happened.” 
What I have said about its boldness is well proved by 
the following incident, which occurred at the vicarage of 
Beeston, near Nottingham, in August, 1859. Numerous 
flocks of sparrows had frequented the grounds, and the 
cat belonging to the house had been watching their 
arrival, and seized every opportunity of pouncing upon 
them. She was at the foot of a tree one day looking up 
at the sparrews, and doubtless on murderous deeds intent, 
which they seemed to divine, for in a few minutes they 
descended en masse. As the birds came within reach 
the cat made a spring at them; but the tables were 
now turned, for so fierce and pertinacious was their 
attack, so closely did they follow up their enemy, hem- 
ming her in on all sides, that she was perfectly cowed, 
and compelled to seek safety by springing through a 
window, leaving the victory to her brave little as- 
sailants. 
I knew a few years since an instance of the power of 
imitation which the sparrow possesses. A young one 
was brought up by a person at Newark from the nest, 
its place being always in a cage by the side of a skylark. 
Here it learnt the song of the lark, and would repeat it 
so accurately that if you did not see the bird it was im- 
possible for a time to tell whether it was the lark or the 
sparrow that was singing. Often have I heard and ad- 
mired its surprising imitation, when suddenly it would 
cease its song and utter the usual harsh chirrup of its 
race. Sometimes its sweet song would be frequently 
I 2 
