72 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Sterue'-s starlm;,'. 



to be interrupted by this speaking bird in the 

 following manner : 



" I stood looking at the little bird : and to 

 every person who came through the passage, it 

 ran fluttering to the side towards which they ap- 

 proached it, with the same lamentation of its 

 captivity ' I can't get out,' said the starling 

 God help thee! said I; but I will let thee out, 

 cost what it will ; so I turned about the cage, to 

 get at the door; it was twisted, and double twisted 

 so fast with wire, there was no getting it open 

 without pulling the cage to pieces I took both 

 hands to it. 



" The bird fleyv to the place where I was at- 

 tempting his deliverance, and thrusting his head 

 through the trellis, pressed his breast against it, 

 as if impatient I fear, poor creature! said I, 

 I cannot set thee at liberty. ' No,' said the star- 

 ling ( I can't get out I can't get out.' " 



THE SPARROW. 



THE length of this well-known bird is five 

 inches and three quarters. The bill is dusky, 

 the eyes hazel ; the top of the head, and back 

 part of the neck, ash-colour; the throat, forepart 

 of the neck, and space round the eyes, black; 

 the cheeks whitish ; the breast and all the under 

 parts are of a pale ash-colour; the back, scapu- 



