182 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
sparrow in the fields. But the bird everywhere 
preserves its spirit of independent, almost defiant, 
boldness and its aggressive disposition, even towards 
others of its own kind. A flock of sparrows can 
seldom remain in company, even for a few minutes, 
without quarrelling and fighting amongst themselves, 
and not unfrequently a general engagement takes 
place, which sometimes results in the death of one or 
more of the combatants. And who has not witnessed 
the furious passion which one sparrow will often 
manifest while in pursuit of another which has given 
it some cause of offence ? 
Even towards birds much larger and more powerful 
than itself will the sparrow behave in the same 
hectoring, domineering manner. I have heard, for 
example, of a sparrow following a starling over a 
lawn and taking its worms, &c., away from it as soon 
as they were captured. The nature of the bird, 
indeed, is essentially pugnacious, and to this fact it 
owes its present position in the world; a position the 
more remarkable when we consider the terrible 
persecution which for so many years has been waged 
against it. 
