THE SPARROW IN EUROPE. 15 



have repaired to their roosting-quarters in hay-stacks 

 and the common ivy, immense numbers are taken by 

 means of nets and bags suspended from long poles. 

 From their bold and obtrusive character, combined with 

 their exceedingly ravenous appetite, we should naturally 

 expect that these birds would become a ready prey to 

 the snares of the fowler. Perhaps, their remarkable 

 wariness may, in a measure, be attributed to the whole- 

 sale persecutions which they have met with at the hands 

 of man during the past. 



Bewick, in his History of British Birds, in describing 

 the habits of this species, says, "It does not, like other 

 birds, shelter itself in woods and forests, or seek its 

 subsistence in uninhabited places, but is a resident in 

 towns and villages; it follows society and lives at its 

 expense; granaries, barns, courtj'ards, pigeon-houses, 

 and, in short, all places where grain is scattered, are its 

 favorite resorts." 



According to the Count de BufFon "it is extremely 

 destructive, its plumage is entirely useless, its flesh 

 indifferent food, its notes grating to the ear, and its 

 familiarity and petulance disgusting." 



Mudie says the sparrows are "voracious, and withal 

 energetic birds," and "may be seen holding assemblies 

 with a deal of noise and clatter." Usually a dispute or 

 quarrel seems to be the cause of these gatherings. In 

 these troubles, the crowd which has been attracted 

 invariabl} 7 assists the strongest part} r . White, in his 

 History of Selborne, briefly alludes to these convocations, 

 and arrives at somewhat similar conclusions. 



Yarrell contributes his testimony to the sparrow's 

 pugnacity. After alluding to the early mating of this 

 species, he says, "Like most of those birds which are 



