58 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
often renewed. Immediately after one nest had been removed 
and openly cremated, it was aggravating to see the evicted owners 
commencing to erect another domicile on the site of their old one. 
I therefore allowed them to.proceed with their nests and lay 
their eggs, and afterwards removed these just before the period of 
incubation. In this way between 60 and 70 eggs were destroyed 
in the course of a single season. Old nests, placed in crevices 
under slates on the roofs of out-houses, were cleared away, and 
the entrances effectually blocked with stone and lime. In such 
places the birds appear to use the same nest year after year, and, 
as in old and insanitary human dwellings, there are often far 
more actual inhabitants than the nominal proprietors. One such 
nest was found to be literally swarming with the worm-like larve 
of fleas. It need scarcely be said that in spite of all my efforts 
the number of sparrows was not perceptibly diminished. 
It was amusing to notice that the sparrows soon came to 
recognise me as a mortal enemy, and my appearance in the garden 
was the signal for the immediate outburst of a noisy chorus of 
disapproval. They followed me from place to place and administered 
a severe scolding, but no other member of our family was similarly 
received. 
The sparrow has been aptly described as a “ ruffian in feathers,” 
and anyone who studies his habits will soon ‘be disposed to agree 
that his character is by no means free from moral taint. Through- 
out the whole year, but especially at the breeding season, the 
birds frequently quarrel among themselves. In a moment the 
quiet of the garden is broken by a noisy tumult. The sparrows 
flock together and surround the actual combatants, who are 
generally rival mates contending for the possession of the fair 
object of their devotion. Each bird seems to try to make more 
noise than the others; but it is not easy to determine whether 
such vocal performances are intended to be favourable or other- 
wise to the nuptial celebration, or whether they are merely party 
cries intended for the encouragement of one or other of the rival 
combatants. We fear they are not designed to restore law and 
order, as the sparrow’s code of morals is too notoriously lax, and 
his love of mischief too deeply seated, for the existence of so 
praiseworthy a motive. To these “ruffians in feathers” a fight 
seems to possess as absorbing an interest as it has for the roughs 
