SPARROW TOWN 69 



The crowd looking on cheep and chow their very 

 loudest, and hop excitedly around, and when at last 

 one of the fighters lies panting on the ground, the 

 victor and the mate he has won hop to another bush, 

 and while the hen sits on a branch, the male, with 

 drooping wings and spread tail, hops round bowing, 

 and at every opportunity trying to attract attention 

 in every way he can. As the hen does not take 

 much notice, Cock Sparrow redoubles his efforts ; but 

 still the unresponsive one looks everywhere but at 

 her lover. We can imagine his thoughts and pity 

 him. All this fighting, noise, and excitement was for 

 her ; but as yet this is poor reward. He stops in his 

 dance and looks again ; she is innocently polishing 

 her beak on a branch ! 



Weech-weech) chow-chow chow each note uttered in 

 a louder key ; but still no response. In desperation 

 he hops to the branch, looking the very picture of 

 concern, when suddenly he feels a violent peck on his 

 back. At last, then, she condescends to notice him ; 

 but in what a rude way ! 



No matter, Cock Sparrow is happy ; he begins his 

 rid : culous dance, and again bows and scrapes before 

 her. This is too much for Mrs. Sparrow ; she flies to 

 a top branch of an apple tree, but is immediately 

 followed, and again the two descend to the ground, 

 and her mate continues his expressive exercises. 



She can stand this no longer. Darting at him, she 



