202 FRINGILLID^E. 



are always present, varying in the amount of confidence 

 they place in their patrons, but all depending on man 

 to a certain extent. And not only do they court his 

 society, but they have adopted his diet. Whatever is 

 the staple food of a household, the Sparrows that nestle 

 around will be right pleased to share it; bread, meat, 

 potatoes, rice, pastry, raisins, nuts, if they could have these 

 for the asking, they would not trouble themselves to search 

 farther; but obliged, as they are, to provide for them- 

 selves, they must be content with humble fare ; and so 

 skilful are they as caterers, that whatever other birds may 

 chance to die of starvation, a Sparrow is always round 

 and plump, while not a few have paid for their voracity 

 by their lives. Much difference of opinion exists as to 

 whether Sparrows should be courted by man as allies, or 

 exterminated as enemies. The fact that great efforts are at 

 the present time being made to introduce them into New 

 Zealand, where the corn crops suffer great injury from the 

 attacks of insects, which the presence of Sparrows would, 

 it is believed, materially check, leads to the conclusion that 

 their mission is one of utility. That Sparrows consume 

 a very large quantity of corn in summer there can be no 

 doubt ; as soon as the grain has attained its full size, and 

 long before it is ripe, they make descents on the standing 

 corn, and if undisturbed will clear so effectually of their 

 contents the ears nearest to the hedges, that this portion 

 of the crop is sometimes scarcely worth the threshing. 

 During harvest they transfer their attention to the sheaves, 

 while the reapers and binders are occupied elsewhere ; as 

 gleaners they are indefatigable ; they participate, too, in the 

 joys of harvest home, for their food is then brought to 

 their very doors. The most skilful binder leaves at least a 

 few ears exposed at the wrong end of the sheaf, and these 

 are searched for diligently in the rick ; and the barns must 

 be well closed indeed into which they cannot find admission. 

 At threshings and winnowings they are constant attendants, 



