THE SPARROW. 275 



Pleasing anecdote. 



by Mr. Smellie, with which we shall here present 

 our readers, accompanied by an engraving: 



" When I was a boy," says our author, " I 

 carried off a nest of young sparrows, about a 

 mile from my place of residence. After the nest 

 was completely removed, and while I was march- 

 ing home with them in triumph, I perceived with 

 some degree of astonishment, both parents fol- 

 lowing me at some distance, and observing my 

 motions in perfect silence. A thought then 

 struck me, that they might follow me home, and 

 feed the young according to their usual manner. 

 When just entering the door I held up the nest, 

 and made the young utter the cry which is ex- 

 pressive of the desire of food. I immediately 

 put the nest and the young in the corner of a 

 wire cage, and placed it on the outside of a win- 

 dow. I chose a situation in the room where I 

 could perceive all that should happen, without 

 being myself seen. The young animals soon 

 cried for food. In a short time both parents, 

 having their bills filled with small caterpillars, 

 came to the cage; and after chatting a little, as 

 we would do with a friend through the lattice of 

 a prison, gave a small worm to each. This pa- 

 rental intercourse continued regularly for some 

 time ; till the young were completely fledged, 

 and had acquired a considerahle degree of 

 strength. I then took one of the strongest of 

 them, and placed him on the outside of the cage, 

 in. order to observe the conduct of the parents 



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