THE SPARROW. 71 



placed him on the outside of the cage, in order to ob- 

 serve what would take place. All doubt was soon at 

 an end : in a few minutes both parents arrived, laden 

 as usual with food ; and no sooner did they behold one 

 of their offspring freed from its cage, than they fluttered 

 about, and showed with their voices as well as their 

 wings, the greatness of their joy. At length, these 

 tumultuous expressions gave place to calm and soothing 

 converse : it seemed that they entreated him to follow 

 them, while he appeared impatient to accede to their 

 wishes, yet afraid to encounter the hazard of a first 

 flight. Again and again he was solicited to make the 

 attempt ; when they endeavoured to show him, by flying 

 from the cage to a neighbouring chimney-pot, how 

 easily it might be done, and at last he committed him- 

 self to the air, and alighted in safety, being greeted 

 again by clamorous and active joy. Next day Smellie 

 placed another young bird on the top of the cage, and 

 in the same way he treated the remainder of the brood ; 

 nor did one of them return. 



A few years ago, a man went into a public house, 

 and after some conversation with its inmates, stated 

 that he had just had a present of some birds from a 

 gentleman, in whose family he had been at work, and 

 who was about to leave England. Taking one out of 



