84 SPAHBOW. 



multitude of twenty-one millions, one hundred and sixty- 

 eight thousand larvie prevented from destroying the products 

 of the land, and from increasing their numbers from fifty to 

 five hundred fold!' 



Thus again, in the next article in the same magazine, Mr. 

 Joseph Duff, of Bishop Auckland, writing from that place, 

 November 15th., 1848, gives a calculation made by himself 

 some years previously, as follows, he says, 'Under the eaves 

 were two Sparrows' nests, and, not having any other part of 

 animated nature in view, I set mvself the task of counting 

 how often the Sparrows visited their nests with food during 

 half an hour. One male bird, which was darker than the 

 other, thus enabling me to distinguish him, captured fourteen 

 flies on the wing, and the four birds went from their nests 

 to a water-spout and back one hundred and four times.' He 

 then goes on to calculate that if the common large flies, of 

 which he ascertained that these were the larvae, 'are as prolific 

 as the common house fly, which is computed to produce in 

 one season no less than twenty millions nine hundred thousand 

 but say in round numbers twenty millions thus were pre- 

 vented, by the capture of fourteen flies, the amazing number 

 of two hundred and eighty millions.' 



But even two Counsel will not suffice our Sparrow his 

 cause is a good one, but he has many and powerful enemies 

 to plead against. Further, then, Mr. Edward Peacock, Jun., 

 of Messingham, Kirton-in-Lindsay, Lincolnshire, February, 

 1849: 'I had not waited long before one came, darted under 

 a tile, and in a few seconds flew away again. 'Well,' thought 

 I, 'now is my time to catch the young rascals;' so up I 

 climbed to the roof of the building, and drew out the nest, 

 which contained four newly-hatched Sparrows. I took the 

 young ones in nvy hands, when, lo! a green caterpillar crept 

 from the mouth of one. I killed the four young birds, and 

 each had caterpillars in it: this caused me to relent a little; 

 but what struck me much more forcibly was, finding several 

 wire-worms loose in the nest, which had obviously escaped 

 from the young ones.' And yet again, the same Mr. Duff, 

 of Bishop Auckland, at pages 2415-16, 'About a quarter of 

 a mile east of this place is a round tower, standing on the 

 Bishop of Durham's domain, and near the park wall: it had 

 been in a dilapidated state for many years, and in the crevices 

 were many both Starling and Sparrow nests of the latter 

 some scores. It was an object of interest to his present 



