160 COMMON SPARROW. 



breed three or four times in the year ; and so expeditious 

 are they in forming their nest, that they have been 

 known to begin and finish it in the course of twenty- 

 four hours : it, however, usually occupies about four days. 

 Canary Birds are by no means devoid of sagacity. We 

 are told of one, some years ago exhibited in London, that 

 had been taught to pick up the letters of the alphabet 

 at command, so as to spell the name of any person in 

 company. And this was so conducted, by motions from 

 its master, that the mode was totally imperceptible to the 

 company. 



Common Linnet. This is one of the most pleasing of 

 the rural choir. Its song is peculiarly soft and delicate; 

 and so correct is its faculty of hearing, that it will, 

 without difficulty, assume the notes of almost any other 

 small bird. It feeds on seeds, which it generally peels 

 before it eats. Its favourite food is the seed of flax, from 

 the Latin name of which, (Linum,) its appellation of 

 Linnet is derived. These birds breed in hedges, or furze, 

 forming a small nest, which they line in the inside with 

 wool, hair, and the finest down. The female lays four 

 or five eggs, of a white colour, marked with fine red 

 specks. 



Common Sparrow. No bird is more pert, impudent, 

 and familiar, than the sparrow. Heedless entirely of 

 the presence of mankind, it is to be seen even in the 

 streets of London, picking up its food almost from 

 beneath the horses' feet. Sparrows breed early in the 

 spring, forming their nests under the eaves of houses, 

 in holes of walls, sometimes in trees, and not un- 

 frequently in the bottoms of rook's nests. A very 

 pleasing instance of instinct in the Sparrow was men- 



