110 BIRDS IN LONDON 



he took a sudden violent hatred to his owner's 

 maid ; no sooner would she enter the room 

 where the sparrow happened to be than he 

 would dart at her face and peck and beat her 

 with his wings ; and as he could not be made to 

 like, nor even to tolerate her, she had to be 

 discharged. It was, however, rare for him to 

 abuse his position of first favourite so grossly as 

 on this occasion. He was on the whole a good- 

 tempered bird, and had a happy life, spending 

 the winter months each year in Italy, where his 

 mistress had a country house, and returning in 

 the spring to London. Then, very unexpectedly, 

 his long life of eighteen years came to an end ; 

 for up to the time of dying he showed no sign 

 of decadence. To the last his plumage and dis- 

 position were bright, and his affection for his 

 mistress and love for his own music un- 

 abated. 



After all, it must be said that the sparrow, 

 as a pet, has his limitations ; he is not, mentally, 

 as high as the crow, aptly described by Mac- 

 gillivray as the 6 great sub-rational chief of the 

 kingdom of birds.' And however luxurious the 

 home we may give him, he is undoubtedly 

 happier living his own independent life, a 



