56 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



as many of these pests in a clay as the pugnacious and 

 greedy sparrow, and reward us, besides, for the privilege 

 of nesting in our shade and fruit trees, by the most 

 agreeable melodies and winning manners. 



The common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) is also 

 eaten. In the spring and summer when these creatures 

 make their appearance upon the surface on a clear 

 morning after a night of showers, they are instantly 

 beset and made subservient to a keen and vigorous appe- 

 tite. When the garden soil has been broken up by the 

 spade preparatory to sowing seed, many of these wiry 

 fellows fall ready victims to the sparrow. Unlike the 

 robin, tanager, and others, it has never been observed in 

 the distant fields, gleaning among the upturned clods 

 for the caitiffs which have been exposed to the light of 

 day by the trenchant plough. Other scenes, the bud- 

 ding and blossoming trees, invite its willing labors. 



The flight of the sparrow is low, quite irregular, and 

 but slightly sustained. It never flies to a great distance, 

 when disturbed, like many of the FringiUida;. In this 

 particular, it reminds us of the movements of the song 

 sparrow. Its peculiar physique will not admit of pro- 

 longed and rapid flight, but evidently points to a type 

 of structure best adapted to non-migratory habits. The 

 acquirement of such habits must certainly beget the 

 most unenviable traits of character, when viewed in 

 connection with the sparrow's excessive salacity and 

 remarkable powers of reproduction. To the same cause 

 must be ascribed the exceeding sociability which it 

 manifests towards its human brethren. 



In gleaning for food it is mainly terrestrial in habits. 

 It is only when in quest of caterpillars for its young, and 



