314 An English Sparrow [SECOND WEEK 



between the male and female English sparrows, but I 

 venture to say that not one in ten persons could give 

 a satisfactory description of the colours of either. How 

 much we look and how little we really see! 



Little can be said in favour of the English sparrows' 

 disposition, but let us not blame them for their unfortunate 

 increase in numbers. Man brought them from England, 

 where they are kept in check by Nature's wise laws. These 

 birds were deliberately introduced where Nature was not 

 prepared for them. 



When we put aside prejudice we can see that the male 

 bird, especially when in his bright spring colours, is really 

 very attractive, with his ashy gray head, his back streaked 

 with black and bay, the white bar on his wings and the 

 jet black chin and throat contrasting strongly with the 

 uniformly light- coloured under parts. If this were a rare 

 bird the ' black- throated sparrow' would enjoy his share 

 of admiration. 



It is wonderful how he can adapt himself to new condi- 

 tions, nesting anywhere and everywhere, and this very 

 adaptation is a sign of a very high order of intelligence. He 

 has, however, many characteristics which tell us of his 

 former life. A few of the habits of this bird may be mis- 

 leading. His thick, conical bill is made for crushing seeds, 

 but he now feeds on so many different substances that its 

 original use, as shown by its shape, is obscured. If there 

 were such a thing as vaudeville among birds, the common 

 sparrow would be a star imitator. He clings to the bark 

 of trees and picks out grubs, supporting himself with his 

 tail like a woodpecker; he launches out into the air, taking 



