196 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



admit the bird ; and the nest is always perched on 

 high, beyond the reach of enemies. All sorts of 

 materials are used to form, the nest; feathers, 

 wool, cotton, or any stray substance at hand. Mr. 

 Montagu mentions, that a pair of sparrows in his 

 garden carried off a long piece of matting which had 

 been tied round some lettuces, and conveyed it to 

 their nest, under the tiles. It seemed, however, 

 they could not manage it skilfully, for both birds 

 got their legs so inextricably entangled in it that 

 they were held close prisoners. The extraordinary 

 outcry raised by their neighbour sparrows, who 

 assembled to gaze at the unfortunate pair, (not 

 attempting to aid them,) attracted attention, and 

 they were released, but not till they had been so 

 much exhausted by their struggles that they 

 shortly after died. 



One food of sparrows is the house-fly, which 

 were it not for them would multiply to an in- 

 tolerable extent. They are also incessant in the 

 destruction of the cabbage-butterflies, and are very 

 useful scavengers in clearing away small offal of 

 various sorts. They are voracious birds, and very 

 energetic, and may be seen congregating in clus- 

 ters with a great deal of noise and clatter. Their 

 attachment to their young is very pleasing ; and 

 numerous instances of it are mentioned in works 

 on natural history. 



