70 A RUFFIAN IN FEA THERS. 



the polar bear, one touch of whose paw would flatten him 

 like a wafer. 



Perhaps the most saucy thing reported of a sparrow 

 was witnessed in Brooklyn by a well-known artist. He 

 was watching a robin* hard at work on the lawn, gathering 

 food for his family, when he noticed a sparrow, who also 

 seemed interested in the operation. The sparrow looked 

 on, evidently with growing excitement, while one bit after 

 another was uncovered, till at last a particularly large and 

 attractive grub was brought to light. This was too much 

 for sparrow philosophy. He made one dash, snatched 

 the tempting morsel from the very bill of the robin, and 

 disappeared before the astounded bird recovered from his 

 surprise. 



* The American robin is a rather large bird, a thrush indeed, with 

 red-breast ( Turdus Migratorius). 



BILLING AND SONS, PRINTERS, GUILDFORD 



