BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND 109 



levity in places of public worship, that he is disrespectful to 

 bye-laws and perpetually trespassing, is true enough ; but 

 how can you bring such misdemeanours home to a bird who 

 hops up a water-pipe in reply to your charges? In private 

 life, too, he is disreputable. As a frivolous parent given to 

 rollino" the eo"2fs out of the nest, and even also his infant 

 progeny ; as an unworthy spouse, transferring his affections 

 lightly, and often assaulting the partner of his joys and sorrows 

 (and in return as often assaulted by her) ; as a bad neighbour, 

 scuffling with his kind whenever he meets them — in each of 

 these respects he presents himself to the severely moral mind 

 as undeserving of respect. Yet with something of the eccen- 

 tricity of judgment which commends to public regard the truly 

 infamous Punch, who hangs the hangman, kills his wife, and 

 throws the baby out of the window, we persist in looking upon 

 the sparrow, with all his notorious faults, as a popular favourite 

 and resent any serious exposure of his obliquities. 



' Touch not the little sparrow, who doth build 

 His home so near us. He doth follow us 

 From spot to spot amidst the turbulent town 

 And ne'er desert us. To all other birds 

 The woods suffice, the rivers, the sweet fields, 

 But he doth herd with man.'' 



In one aspect he is altogether admirable — as the comrade 

 of Britain's soldiers and sailors in times of war. Wherever 



