The Sparrow. 175 



the hunting instinct said to be inherent in human 

 nature, finds his ardour always damped and his 

 aim impaired by the fear that, should he start 

 on a sporting expedition, he in turn may find 

 himself the object of pursuit by his natural 

 enemy the policeman; and the cat finds the 

 tiles and parapets of London houses badly 

 arranged for stalking purposes, and, with the 

 exception of an hour or two in the very early 

 morning, the streets, the " London sparrows' y 

 happy feeding-grounds, are absolutely impassable 

 to him. 



Most open spaces in London are provided with 

 a cab-rank, and there the sparrows receive from 

 the cabmen their daily rations, and show no more 

 fear of man than do the pigeons with whom in 

 such places they always associate. Hitherto we 

 have spoken of the true London sparrow, the 

 bird whose home is in the crowded streets, and 

 whose life is spent among bricks and mortar, who 

 knows no more of trees and fields and growing 

 corn than does his congener the street boy. There 

 is, however, another sparrow, of the same species 

 be it always understood, that inhabits the suburbs 

 and parks of London, whose coat, though not so 

 clean and bright as that of its country cousin, 

 is passable, and generally whole and unruffled, 

 and looks as if the wearer took some little pride 

 in its condition. Circumstances are no doubt in 

 this bird's favour, as, in lieu of smutty roofs it 

 has trees on* which to perch, and can always find 



