SHARP-WITTED ROGUES. 261 



Dr. Johnson, it may be hoped that neither he, 

 nor his children, nor his grandchildren, will ever 

 cross the barriers. 



In Utah, as everywhere, the English sparrows 

 are sharp-witted rogues, and they have discov- 

 ered and taken possession of the most comfort- 

 able place for bird quarters to be found, for pro- 

 tection from the terrible heat of summer, and 

 the wind and snow of winter ; it is between the 

 roof and the stone or adobe walls of the houses. 

 Wherever the inequalities of the stones or the 

 shrinkage of the wood has left an opening, and 

 made penetration possible, there an English 

 sparrow has established a permanent abode. 



The first bird I noticed in the quiet Mormon 

 village where I settled myself to study was a 

 little beauty in blue. I knew him instantly, for 

 I had met him before in Colorado. He was 

 dining luxuriously on the feathery seeds of a 

 dandelion when I discovered him, and at no 

 great distance was his olive-clad mate, similarly 

 engaged. They were conversing cheerfully in 

 low tones, and in a few minutes I suppose he 

 called her attention to the superior quality of 

 his dandelion ; for she came to his side, and 

 he at once flew to a neighboring bush and burst 

 into song. It was a pretty little ditty, or rather 

 a musical rattle on one note, resembling the 

 song of the indigo bird, his near relative. 



