THE SPARROW 79 



Qu'on aille soutenir, apres un tel recit, 

 Que les betes ii'ont pas d'esprit 



(Let it be said after this, that birds and beasts have 

 no intelhgence ! ) 



In I he fine season they put a cage on a balcony near 

 my dweUing, in which some canaries are chirping from 

 night to morning. As soon as their daily portion of mdlet 

 and chickweed has been placed in their cage, the spar- 

 rows who have been watching the proceedings from the 

 opposite roof, hasten up shrieking, and the brazen-faced 

 creatures who know no fear, pick away the best of the 

 millet and chickweed in spite of the indignant cries and 

 protestations of the canaries, which only excite yet fur- 

 ther the boldness of the marauders. 



In summer, the life of the Parisian sparrow is a long 

 holiday, an uninterrupted season of love making, of 

 abundant, and choice dinners. But summer does not last 

 forever. Gradually, autumn is approaching; the leaves of 

 the chestnuts fall with the cool days of September. 

 Sparrows, with their subtle scent, have a presentiment 

 of short and rainy days, of long, cold nights, of snow- 

 covered roofs, of muddy streets, closed windows, of scar- 

 cer, and less choice dinners. You can see them congregate 

 on the large trees in squares and gardens, taking counsel 

 together, ^^'ill winter be there soon ? Will il be severe? 

 Is it necessary to think seriously of leaving the country? 

 Their instinct tells them that yonder, beyond the city 



