250 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



The evening was far advanced at the time, as it 

 happened, when the little thing made her escape, and 

 darkness soon put an end to the undignified scolding 

 and unneighbourly conduct of the Sparrows, which, 

 however, I expect was renewed at day-break or before 

 it next morning; and this would account for the return 

 of the truant to her former domicile as well as to the 

 mate she had left behind her, for no doubt the Sparrows 

 resented her coming among them and drove her away 

 from the vicinity of their valuable nests. 



It is almost superfluous to observe that these small 

 and extremely defenceless birds had better be kept in 

 an aviary by themselves, or at least in a compartment 

 of one occupied by no tenants of greater size, or armed 

 with more formidable beak and claws, especially if at 

 all combatively inclined; but a dozen or two ol them 

 will agree together perfectly well, or they may be 

 lodged with some of the smaller kinds of foreign birds, 

 such as Waxbills, that are in general favour with 

 amateurs. 



This reminds me that I once was witness of a rather 

 comical incident, when a pair of Harlequin Doves were 

 utterly routed and put to flight by no less formidable 

 an antagonist than an impudent little cock Zebrafinch. 

 The pair of Doves had been sunning themselves for 

 some time in the outside or flight portion of the 

 aviary, and having had a good "air bath" wanted to 

 go inside in order to have something to eat, and one 



