58 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



tain isolated localities, thoroughly convince me of the 

 truth of the statement. Boxes that were occupied during 

 the breeding-season have been known to afford shelter to 

 the same parent birds during the inclemency of winter. 

 There are times, "doubtless, when this condition of things 

 does not prevail. 



Mating commences remarkably early, if it may be 

 said to have a beginning at all. The astounding salacity 

 of the sparrow, which surpasses that of any other species, 

 so far as my knowledge will enable me to form a judg- 

 ment, inclines me to believe that in many cases it is not 

 accomplished at all. I have observed the sexes together, 

 during the warm days of December and January that 

 sometimes occur in our northern winters, displaying the 

 warmest affection and closest attachment for each other. 

 Such feelings beget an ardor of temperament which 

 manifests itself in conjugal embraces. The sexes, in 

 coition during these months, have frequently been en- 

 countered. This should not seem such a wonderful 

 affair, when it is borne in mind that preparations for 

 nest-building are frequently made as early as the first 

 week of February. 



Usually, the male among animals is the more amo- 

 rous of the sexes. But in the case of the sparrow, 

 the female is certainly the equal, if not the superior, of 

 her partner, in this respect. I have observed the male 

 in sexual intercourse with his partner as many as twelve 

 times in less than five minutes. Mr. John St rouse, of 

 Germantown, informs me that fifteen expresses the 

 highest number of times that has come under his no- 

 tice. Others have observed a much smaller, yet equally 

 astounding, number. The peculiar movements of the 

 female at such times, and her not-to-be-miseonstrued 



