THE SPARROW. 



IF, out of the whole feathered creation, one bird had to 

 be selected as the national emblem, it is questionable 

 whether, upon the whole, any could be found more suited 

 to the position than the sparrow. He is a bold, daring 

 bird ; where he settles he speedily makes himself master 

 of the position, and elbows out all rivals. He can adapt 

 himself to all climates ; he is prolific, and multiplies with 

 appalling rapidity. He can make himself at home equally 

 in town or country, and manages to thrive where other 

 birds would die. He has, of course, some characteristics 

 which Englishmen would perhaps repudiate, but it must be 

 owned that the natives of every other country are almost 

 unanimous in crediting us with their possession. He is 

 quarrelsome, combative, self-sufficient, given to bullying 

 the weak, and has an excellent opinion of himself. If a 

 foreigner were asked to describe our national characteristics, 

 some of these qualities would certainly be included in the list; 

 and it is a question if any bird possesses so large a share 

 of our national characteristics as does the sparrow. He 

 is distinguished for his partiality to the neighbourhood 

 of human abodes. The swallow may build as frequently 

 against houses, but he only uses them as a convenience, 

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