SPARROWS. 245 



young one was taken from a nest, with neither down nor 

 feathers upon it, the rudiments only of plumage being 

 visible under the skin, on the back of the head, and 

 along the back ; on the sides of the wings, the shafts of 

 the quills had just pierced the skin. Eight days after, 

 another young one was taken from the same nest, co- 

 vered with feathers, and able to make some use of its 

 wings. Another circumstance is worthy of notice. The 

 old ones had adapted the food to their powers of diges- 

 tion. The stomach of the first was weak, and filled 

 almost entirely with insects, only one grain of wheat, 

 and a few of sand found. In the second, the gizzard 

 was become rastly more muscular, and contained nine 

 grains of wheat whole, besides some smaller pieces, the 

 remains of several beetles, and some larger gravel-stones. 



A Sparrow is not only bold with regard to men, but 

 still more so, on particular occasions, towards other 

 birds. On the edge of a certain lawn, grew a close 

 thick bush. On this lawn, amongst others, the Black- 

 birds used to come and forage for worms. One day a 

 person happened to be looking at a Blackbird in the act 

 of making off with a prize, when a Sparrow, darting 

 from the thick bush, instantly assailed the Blackbird, and 

 compelled him to drop the worm, of which he took im- 

 mediate possession. So singular a circumstance induced 

 the observer to look out now and then, when Blackbirds 

 came, and he frequently saw the same piratical practice 

 adopted by the Sparrow, who thus, by keeping watch in 

 his bush, was enabled to enrich himself on the labours 

 of the larger bird. But, notwithstanding this unfavour- 

 able feature in his character, he has been known to act 

 with great consideration and kindness to birds requiring 

 his good offices. 



In the Naturalists' Magazine we find the following 

 story in point: "A lady, living in Chelsea, was ex- 

 tremely fond of birds, of which she kept a considerable 

 number in cages. Amongst others she had a Canary, 

 which was a particular favourite, but the loudness of his 



