222 SPARROWS. 



to enrich himself on the labours of the larger bird. But not- 

 withstanding this unfavourable feature in his character, he has 

 been known to act with great consideration and kindness to 

 birds requiring his good offices. 



In the Naturalist's Magazine we find the following story in 

 point : 



"A lady, living in Chelsea, was extremely 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 

 note often obliged her to put him outside of her window, in some 

 trees which were trained up in front of her house. One morning, 

 during breakfast, when the cage was there placed, a Sparrow was 

 observed to fly round about it, then perch upon the top, and twitter 

 to the bird within, between whom and himself a sort of conversation 

 seemed to ensue. After a few moments he flew away, but returned 

 in a short time, bearing a worm or small grub in his bill, which he 

 dropped into the cage, and immediately flew away. Similar presents 

 were received day after day, at the same time, by the Canary, from 

 his friend the Sparrow, with whom, at length, he became so inti- 

 mate, that he very often received the food, thus brought, into his 

 own bill, from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance attracted the 

 notice of the lady's neighbours, who often watched these daily 

 visits ; and some of them, to try the extent of the Sparrow's kind- 

 ness, also hung their birds out at the window, Avhen they found them 

 also fed ; but the first and longest visit was always paid by the 

 Sparrow to his original friend the Canary. 



' ' Though thus intimate and social with its own kind, it was 

 observed that this Sparrow was exceedingly shy and timid with 

 respect to human beings ; for, though many were witnesses to the 

 above, they were obliged to keep at a distance, and use great caution, 

 otherwise he immediately flew away. This attention was carried 011 

 throughout the summer, and extended to the beginning of autumn, 

 when the visits entirely ceased, whether intentionally on the part 

 of the Sparrow, or that he met with some accident, could not be 

 ascertained. " 



That they will attend to their young far beyond the usual 

 period, in case of necessity, the following anecdote will prove, 

 though we believe many, if not most birds, will do the same, 

 under similar circumstances ; the experiment may be easily 

 tried, by slightly tying the wings of young birds, when nearly 

 fledged, or confining them by a thread to the bottom of the 

 nest, taking care not to injure them. A pair of Sparrows, 



