THE SPARROW ; ITS VICES. rise 
under-rate the good; a tendency not unnatural, per- 
haps, when their own interests are at stake. 
Much of the persecution to which the sparrow has 
been subjected has undoubtedly arisen from the fact 
that its bold and defiant character has led it to per- 
petrate its thefts in full view of its human enemies, 
thus forcing its mischievous deeds upon their notice, 
and earning for itself a hatred such as has been in- 
curred, perhaps, by no other creature. And, under 
any circumstances, a small evil due to a bird—or to 
any other animal—is far more conspicuous than a 
great good; and we are naturally more prone to lay 
stress upon the former than upon the latter. Are 
not most of us more ready with blame than with 
praise? And do we not, albeit unconsciously, exag- 
gerate the guilt of a criminal, and pass over unnoticed 
the virtue of one void of offence? 
Let me not be understood to assert, however, or 
even to infer, that none of the many accusations 
which have from time to time been brought against 
the sparrow are true and well-founded. I champion 
the bird owing to my firm conviction that his merits 
outweigh his faults; but I do not deny the latter. 
Much of what is said against him by farmers and 
gardeners is perfectly and absolutely true, and at 
certain times of the year he is one of the most 
destructive creatures with which the farmer has to 
contend. So mischievous is the sparrow at such 
times, in fact, that, were not his misdeeds atoned 
for by counterbalancing services, the farmers would 
