220 The Hedge- Sparrow. 



cuckoo, and that other birds, attracted by its 

 peculiar cry, must help the foster-parents. Be 

 this as it may, it is an undoubted fact that many 

 cuckoos are yearly hatched and brought up by 

 these birds. Hedge-sparrows are occasionally 

 kept in captivity ; they thrive in aviaries, and, 

 being of a peaceful disposition, are not given to 

 interfering with the other birds, though some 

 people complain that they are unsociable. When 

 so kept they will eat canary seed, breadcrumbs, 

 paste, &c., but they look upon an occasional 

 meal-worm as their greatest luxury. 



In London hedge-sparrows breed regularly in 

 Kensington Gardens, being particularly fond of 

 the Flower Walk and the private gardens sur- 

 rounding the Palace, where some of them may 

 always be seen the year through. And, generally, 

 we do not think their numbers are diminishing 

 in the Parks, or, indeed, in any part of London 

 or the suburbs, where they are not driven out 

 by the builder. 



