40 THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



sparrow to notice these friendly advances, or a tendency 

 to repel them most unceremoniously and ungenerously. 



Cruel as is the treatment which our smaller birds re- 

 ceive from the stranger, when they have returned, after 

 a brief sojourn abroad, to the land of their birth, they 

 bear it quite patiently and nobly, and only venture to 

 resent the insults which are heaped upon them when 

 forbearance ceases to be a virtue. To witness this usur- 

 pation of rightful territory and the insolent bearing of 

 the marauder, is certainly very provoking, and to the 

 robin, whose ideas of honor and right are very exalted, 

 must be considered a just cause for war. It is not sur- 

 prising then that this " bouncer of the sod" should wage 

 persistent warfare upon the enemy, on each annual re- 

 turn, but to be ingloriously defeated. The bluebird, a 

 very obstinate little fellow, to be sure, has learned from 

 experience the folly of contending against superior 

 numbers, and, consequently, leaves the sparrow in un- 

 disputed possession of subjugated territory. In past 

 years I have seen this bird contend with the sparrow 

 for the possession of a tree-cavity, or a box, with a 

 courage which was truly commendable and astonishing, 

 but to no use. 



In not a single case have I known either the robin or 



O 



the bluebird to come off victors in these encounters. 

 In a single-handed struggle I would have but little fears 

 for them. While this has been the experience of com- 

 petent observers in other cities, also, there can be no 

 doubt but that the sparrows are sometimes beaten and 

 driven away, the conquerors remaining masters of the 

 situation. The experience of Dr. Brewer, of Boston, 

 confirms this suspicion. When told by Mr. Galvin, the 

 city-forester of Boston, that the bluebird assails the 



