THE FARMER'S FEATHERED FRIENDS. 59 



In the north, where the land in some places only 

 grows oats in scanty patches, pigeons may do harm, 

 for the very reason that they can get oats or nothing ; 

 but in the south of England it is different. 



The sparrow, or " spadger," is a friend to the 

 farmer, although he has from time immemorial 

 done his best to exterminate that small bird. Hap- 

 pily for his lands, he has not succeeded in doing 

 this. Although the commonest of our common 

 birds, his ways of getting a living are still not very 

 clearly understood. 



He is caught in thousands for sparrow-shooters, 

 and by the trap. Then the farmers' sparrow clubs 

 claim their host of victims. Besides which, sparrow- 

 pie, sparrow-pudding, and roast sparrows, spitted 

 closely on long sticks or skewers, are farmhouse 

 delicacies long remembered by those who have en- 

 joyed them. It is not very often that the good 

 dame can be persuaded to give her men-folk a treat 

 of this kind ; for she very justly observes, " Drat 

 the little things ! it do take such a lot o' time to 

 get 'em ready." But if once she makes up her 

 mind for the job, all hands have to set to work to 

 help her, both men and maids ; and when the pie, 



