212 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



this, sparrow clubs, for tlie wholesale destruction of 

 these very birds, still exist in the country.'^ 



Too common to need much description of their 

 habits, there is one in particular which annually 

 excites my warmest indignation, and that is the manner 

 in which the sparrows persecute the house-martins, and 

 endeavour to take possession of their nests when built. 

 I am often obliged to come to the rescue and shoot the 

 intruders, even at the risk of disturbing the martins. In 

 the winter the sparrows invariably roost in the martins' 

 nests, carrying in additional straws and other warm 

 materials. Their great fondness for dusting them- 

 selves is another troublesome habit, our newly raked 

 flower borders being constantly defaced by a succession 

 of little pit holes, where these birds have half buried 

 themselves in the enjoyment of a dust bath ; and in the 

 early spring they attack the crocuses, eating some small 

 portions of the flower and leaving the rest on the ground, 

 whilst in summer the tender shoots of the pinks and 

 carnations are equally attractive morsels. As a citizen, 

 the house-sparrow has certain habits and customs of its 

 own, but little noticed by ordinary observers. When 

 formerly residing in Surrey-street, I remember noticing 

 the invariable absence of these birds, from the garden, 

 during certain hours of the day. In the early morning, 

 and till nearly noon, we had always plenty in the apple 

 and pear trees, but from that time tiU late in the after- 



* Under the appropriate heading of " The Geese and the 

 Sparrows," the following paragraph was recently inserted in the 

 " Sussex Express" : — " The thirteenth anniversary of the Sparrow 

 Club, Rudgwick, was celebrated with a dinner at the Cricketers' 

 Inn, on Tuesday last. On reference to the books, it was ascer- 

 tained that 5,313 birds' heads had been sent in by the members 

 during the year, 1,363 being contributed by Mr. W. Wooberry, to 

 whom was awarded the first prize. ^Ix. W. Botting, with 912, 

 claimed second honom-s." 



