TEE SPARROW IN AMERICA. 67 



sometimes occur, especially in the spring, a high degree of 

 harmony prevails. May this not he accounted for hy the 

 fact that this entire community is the natural outgrowth 

 of a single pair that took up its quarters in the vine 

 several years ago? 



The eggs of the house sparrow are oval, pointed at one 

 extremity, and dotted with various shades of cinereous 

 brown upon a light ashen background. Their average 

 length is .91 of an inch, and average breadth .62. 



The breeding-period being over, both old birds and 

 young may often be seen together, dusting themselves 

 in the streets (for which they show great fondness), or 

 else be observed upon a freshly deposited heap of horse- 

 dung, gorging themselves to satiety upon the undi- 

 gested fragments of grain and other substances which 

 it contains. Often, on such occasions, have we remarked 

 the attention which the parent birds bestow upon their 

 numerous progeny, showing their affection by the tender 

 of some racy article which they have discovered in their 

 careful and diligent examination. 



Even at this period, and all along through the dreary 

 autumnal and winter months which follow, owing to 

 the extreme scarcity of suitable roosting quarters, which 

 is mainly noticeable within large towns and cities in 

 consequence of the vast abundance of these birds, 

 immense numbers seek shelter upon window ledges, 

 and underneath verandas or porches, which they defile 

 by their disgusting habits. The heaps of excrement 

 which they leave in such places, a sorry compensation 

 for the kindness and benevolence which tolerate their 

 presence, are considerable. To the tidy and careful 

 housewife, they are unmitigated nuisances. It is not 

 surprising that many should place them under the ban 



