SPARROWS. 227 



own bill, from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance 

 attracted the notice of the lady's neighbours, who often 

 watched these daily visits ; and some of them, to try the 

 extent of the Sparrow's kindness, also hung their birds out 

 at the window, when they found them also fed ; but the first 

 and longest visit was always paid by the Sparrow to his 

 original friend the Canary. 



" Though thus intimate and social with his own kind, it 

 was observed that this Sparrow was exceedingly shy and 

 timid with respect to human beings ; for, though many were 

 witnesses to the above, they were obliged to keep at a dis- 

 tance, and use great caution, otherwise he immediately flew 

 away. This attention was carried on throughout the Summer, 

 and extended to the beginning of Autumn, when the visits 

 entirely ceased, whether intentionally on the part of the 

 Sparrow, or that he met with some accident, could not be 

 ascertained." 



That they will attend to their young far beyond the usual 

 period, in case of necessity, the following anecdote will 

 prove, though we believe many, if not most birds, will do 

 the same, under similar circumstances ; the experiment may 

 be easily tried, by slightly tying the wings of young birds, 

 when nearly fledged, or confining them by a thread to the 

 bottom of the nest, taking care not to injure them. A pair 

 of Sparrows, which had built in the thatched roof of a house, 

 were observed to continue their regular visits to the nest 

 long after the time when the young birds ought naturally to 

 have taken flight. This unusual circumstance continued 

 throughout the year ; and, in the Winter, a gentleman, who 

 had all along observed them, determined on finding out the 

 cause. He therefore placed a ladder, and, on mounting, 

 found one of the young ones detained a prisoner, by means 

 of a string, or scrap of worsted, which formed part of the 

 nest, having become accidentally twisted round its leg. Being 

 thus disabled from procuring its own living, it had been fed 

 by the continued exertions of the parents. 



An unfortunate Sparrow, who had also been made pri- 

 soner in his own nest, met with a very different fate, being 



