64 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



continues for eleven days. The burden of the responsi- 

 bility devolves chiefly upon the female, although the 

 male does not refuse his generous assistance. "While his 

 partner is thus occupied, he is a faithful guardian, and 

 willing provider. He exhibits great affection for her, 

 and is indefatigable in his efforts to render her comfort- 

 able and happy. His jealousy is unbounded. No feath- 

 ered stranger is permitted within his territory, without 

 receiving summary and condign punishment for such 

 temerity. When unable to cope with the enemy, a 

 call-note of distress brings scores of friends to the rescue. 

 He seldom strays any considerable distance from home, 

 except when foraging. He maintains the most friendly 

 relations with his neighbors, and is seldom known to 

 violate the rules of common decency and good faith. He 

 never trespasses upon the rights and property of a friend, 

 and is extremely jealous of his own. Matrimonial rela- 

 tions are entered into with a due sense of their honor 

 and sacredness. In not a single instance have I known 

 a real flirtation to be practised, a genuine case of deser- 

 tion by either sex, or one of infidelity. The remarkable 

 salacity which characterizes the social life of this species, 

 one would suppose, would break up the harmony which 

 exists, and turn a well-regulated and peaceful commu- 

 nity into a state of society where quarrels and bitter 

 animosities would be of daily occurrence; in fine, 

 would convert it into a communism, or a state of society 

 in which polygamy would be a prevailing feature. Like 

 our common Gallus, the most powerful males would be 

 the more highly favored. But, be it said to the credit 

 of the species, a more perfect pattern of conjugal faith- 

 fulness could scarcely be pictured to the mind. Its 

 extreme amativeness is doubtless, as before remarked, 



