SPARROWS. 



It is often remarked, what impudent birds are London Spar- 

 rows ! and not without reason. Born and bred in the bustle ot 

 the town, they must either live and jostle with the crowd, or 

 look down from the house-tops and die of hunger Naturally 

 enough, they prefer the former; and every one of our London 

 readers will, we are sure, testify to the cool intrepidity with 

 which this familiar bird will pounce upon a bit of bread or 

 some other tempting morsel which happens to catch its eye 

 upon the pavement, and with what triumph and exultation it 

 bears it off to its mate, seated on some window sill or coping- 

 stone above, or followed, perhaps, by three or four disappointed 

 companions, who were a moment too late in seizing the spoil. 

 Then for his nest — while other birds must select their own 

 accustomed spots, the similar tree or bush, the same materials, 

 &c, the Sparrow, like a bird who knows the world, is every- 

 where at home, and ready to establish himself wherever chance 

 may happen to place him. Sometimes a tree answers his pur- 

 pose, and a comfortable nest he will there build, with the rare 

 addition of an arched top into the bargain, which possibly he 

 may have learned from that knowing bird the Magpie. In 

 default of a tree or a house, a chink in a rock or a hole in a wall 

 suits him ; but, after all, the nooks and eaves of buildings 

 are his favourite resorts ; accordingly, in London, where he has 

 his choice, he will often select droll places. Amidst the carved 

 foliage of the capital of some Corinthian column, a projection 

 of straws, with now and then a feather, announces a nest in 

 preparation. 



But some London Sparrows aspire still higher, one pair 

 having actually built in the lion's mouth over Northumberland 

 House at Charing Cross. A still more extraordinary place 

 was pitched upon by a north-country couple. A coal- vessel 

 from Newcastle put into Nairn, in Scotland, and while * there, 

 two Sparrows were frequently observed to alight on the top of 

 the vessel's mast, while the vessel remained in port. This 

 occasioned no great surprise to the crew ; but after putting to 

 sea, the two Sparrows were seen following the sloop, and, 

 having come up with her, resumed their posts at the top of the 

 mast. Crumbs of bread were scattered upon the deck, with the 



