304 TTIE REASON WHT: 



" You curious chanters of the wood, 

 That warble forth dame Nature's lays, 

 Thinking your voices understood." WOTTON. 



observed the same conduct with the remainder of the brood, which consisted of foul'. 

 I need hardly add that not one either of the parents or children ever afterward! 

 revisited the execrated cage." 



Although sparrows are ordinarily regarded in a very indifferent light, they 

 are, in addition to their utility, birds of a very kindly nature, living in habits of 

 great sociability with each other. Several instances are related of their having been 

 observed feeding the young of other birds which have been in a state of captivity ; 

 and there is one well-attested anecdote of a sparrow, which, having been caught by 

 the leg by a piece of worsted, from which it could not extricate itself, was tended 

 and fed by some birds of its own species through a whole winter ; and, when it was 

 released, was greeted with evident marks of satisfaction by all its former com- 

 panions and friends. A farmer's servant placed a nest of young sparrows in a trap- 

 cage, and caught forty old birds, all coming with food in their mouths to feed the 

 helpless young. A lady residing in the neighbourhood of London hung out a cage 

 near her balcony, in which was a j'oung bird, and it was fed for many weeks by 

 sparrows. Similar instances of kindness and solicitude on the part of these birds 

 might be multiplied to infinity. 



972. Why are small birds, such as those of the sparrow and 

 swallow tribes, so numerous and widely diffused ? 



Because they ftre the chief agents for keeping insect life ivithin 

 proper limits. Without them the myriads of minute creatures 

 that would prey upon vegetables would so multiply, that famine 

 would be of frequent occurrence, and industry would meet only 

 with a precarious reward. 



973. It appears from the papers, that in New Zealand the country, at particular 

 seasons, is invaded by armies of caterpillars, which clear off the grain crops as 

 completely as if mowed down by a scythe. "With the view of counteracting this 

 plague, a novel importation has lately been made. M^. Brodie shipped three 

 hundred sparrows, carefully selected from the best hedgerows in England. The 

 food alone put on board for them cost 18. This sparrow question has been a long- 

 Btanding matter of discussion in Auckland ; but the necessity to farmers of small 

 birds to keep down the grubs is admitted on all sides. There is no security in New 

 Zealand against the invasion of myriads of caterpillars, which devastate the crops 

 Mr. Brodie has already acclimatised the pheasant, which is abundant in the north. 

 The descent from the pheasant to sparrows is somewhat of an anti-climax ; but 

 should the latter multiply, the greatest benefit will have been conferred on 

 the country. 



974. Why have the different species of birds Jistinct voices t 01 

 cries ? 



This provision has doubtless been made in order that the 



