AMERICAN EDITOR. 301 



have no song, and are seldom seen in flocks. The plumage 

 of the house-sparrow is gray ; it frequently builds in the 

 thatched roof of the English cottage, under eaves also, 

 and in chinks in walls. These birds are useful in devour- 

 ing house-flies ; they also feed on some species of butter- 

 flies, more especially those whose caterpillars injure the 

 cabbages so frequently, and one writer considers it doubt- 

 ful if cabbages could be raised at all in England if it were 

 not for the house-sparrow. In Persia, these birds, it is 

 said, are trained to chase butterflies, as a royal sport, just 

 as the hawk was taught to pursue the heron in olden 

 times. The bird is unknown in America. 



The Jay, garrulus glandarius. Wholly different from 

 our American jays, and much less beautiful in plumage, 

 the jays of Europe do not flock together. They are great 

 chatterers, however, and great mimics also. The color of 

 the European bird is a dark, purplish brown, with blue oil 

 the forehead and wings. 



The Wood-dove, columba palumbus. This is the largest 

 and the handsomest of the British pigeons. It is better 

 known perhaps to the reader, as the ring-dove, and cushat; 

 it is a general favorite in England. 



The Kestrel, falco tinunculus. One of the smaller fal- 

 cons of Europe; of reddish brown and cream-colored 

 plumage, marked with dusky spots. Its eye is peculiarly 

 brilliant. It is popularly called " stannel " and " wind- 

 hover," the first word meaning "stand-gale," the last, 

 " hoverer in the wind," from its remarkable power of 

 poising itself over a particular spot in spite of high winds ; 

 at such moments the play of its wings is exceedingly 

 rapid. 



The House-marten, hirundo urbica. With one exception, 

 the bank-swallow, hirundo riparia, the swallows of Europe 

 and America are wholly different. The house -marten of 

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