SPARROWS. 225 



sorts : accordingly, in London, where he has his choice, he 

 will often select droll places. Amidst the carved foliage 

 of the capital of some Corinthian column, a projection of 

 straws, with now and then a feather, announce a nest in pre- 

 paration. 



But some London Sparrows aspire still higher, one pair 

 having actually built in the Lion's mouth, over Northumber- 

 land House at Charing Cross. A still more extraordinary place 

 was pitched upon by a north-country couple. A coal-vessel 

 from Newcastle, put into Nairn, in Scotland, and while there, 

 two Sparrows were frequently observed to alight on the top 

 of the vessel's mast, while the vessel remained in port. This 

 occasioned no great surprise to the crew : but, after putting 

 to sea, the two Sparrows were seen following the sloop, and, 

 having come up with her, resumed their posts at the top 

 of the mast. Crumbs of bread were scattered upon the deck, 

 with a view of enticing them down, of which they soon availed 

 themselves ; and, after eating heartily, again returned to the 

 mast-head. By the time the vessel had been two days at 

 sea, they became much more familiar, and descended boldly 

 for the purpose of feeding. The voyage was a long one, 

 lasting for some days ; when, on reaching the river Tyne, to 

 which they were bound, the nest with four young ones, was 

 carefully taken down, and being put, in the presence of 

 the old birds, into the crevice of a ruined house, on the banks 

 of the river, they continued to rear their brood. 



While thus upon the subject of young Sparrows, we may 

 direct attention to the very rapid growth of their feathers in 

 hot weather. On the 9th of August, a young one was taken 

 from a nest, with neither down nor feathers upon it, the 

 rudiments only of plumage being visible under the skin, on 

 the back of the head, and along the back ; on the side of the 

 wings, the shafts of the quills had just pierced the skin. 

 Eight days after, another young one was taken from the same 

 nest, covered with feathers, and able to make some use of its 

 wings. Another circumstance is worthy of notice. The old 

 ones had adapted the food to their powers of digestion. The 

 stomach of the first was weak, and filled almost entirely with 

 9 



