INSTINCTS AND HABITS OF BIRDS. 207 



himself. In this condition he must have been 

 starved, had not his companions regularly fed 

 it till it was released. 



Farmers foolishly abuse sparrows, but they 

 do an infinite deal of good. It has been pretty 

 accurately calculated that, when they have 

 young to feed, they destroy, on an average, 

 every week 3360 caterpillars. They also de- 

 stroy many slugs and other insects. 



Sparrows may be seen in the streets of Lon- 

 don nearly all the year round ; but in the 

 autumn, when the harvest is over, they assemble 

 in large flocks in the stubble-fields around the 

 metropolis, where they get fat on the scattered 

 grain. 



Sparrows are, on several occasions, mentioned 

 in the Holy Scriptures. Thus, for instance, in 

 the eighty-fourth Psalm, " The sparrow hath 

 found an house, and the swallow a nest for 

 herself, where she may lay her young, even 

 Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and 

 my God," and which has been thus beautifully 

 versified : 



" The birds, more happy far than I, 



Around thine altars throng, 

 Securely there they build their nests, 

 Securely rear their young." 



