158 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



often happens that where thousands of lovely primroses may 

 be seen in full bloom in the evening, the ground around the 

 plants on the following morning is found strewed with their 

 withering petals, the Sparrows having been at their mis- 

 chievous work soon after sunrise. They simply nip through 

 the incipient seed-pod at the base of the petals, and let the 

 flower fall to the earth. 



It is likewise a great enemy to two of our favourite 

 birds — the Martin and the Swallow — for it takes posses- 

 sion of their nests in summer, and drives the birds away 

 from their haunts. As an instance of this it may be 

 mentioned that, for several years past, three or four pairs of 

 Swallows have nested under the eaves of my house, and it 

 was a source of great pleasure in the summer evenings to 

 see them flying round the building and constantly visiting 

 their nests, as well as to hear their delightful twitterings 

 early in the morning. In 1886, however, they were so 

 much annoyed by the House Sparrows continually taking 

 possession of their nests and fighting with them, that, un- 

 fortunately, they all left with the exception of a single pair. 



Although its general character is undoubtedly bad, yet 

 this species has some redeeming points, for it is a cheer- 

 ful, familiar bird. Its chirping is heard about the win- 

 dows of our houses early in the cold winter mornings, 

 when deep snow covers the ground, and all the small 

 birds are silent ; and its " parliaments," which are often 

 held in hedges near stackyards, remind us of fine sunny 

 days when 



Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every grace ; 

 Throws out the snowdrop and the crocus first ; 

 The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue, 

 And polyanthus of unuumber'd dyes. 



Thomson, Spring. 



It has been occasionally observed on migration at the 



