SPARROWS IN THE NURSERY 



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sparrow, as every Anglo-Indian knows, 

 is a bird that goes about dumping down 

 nests in sahibs* bungalows. It is greatly 

 assisted in this noble work by the native of 

 India, who has brought to the acme of perfection the art 

 of jerry-building. In the ramshackle, half-finished 

 modern bungalow the rafters that support the ceiling 

 never, by any chance, fit properly into the walls. There 

 are thus in every room a number of cracks, holes, and 

 crevices in which the sparrows love to nest. As a 

 matter of fact, these are not at all safe nesting places. 

 Apart from the fact that the nest is liable to be pulled 

 down at any moment by an angry human being, the 

 situation is dangerous, because there is nothing to 

 prevent a restless young bird from falling out of the 

 nest and thus terminating a promising career. A few 

 days ago a servant brought me a baby sparrow that had 

 fallen out of a nest in the pantry. I always feel inclined 

 to wring the neck of any sparrow that fate has put 

 within my grasp, for I have many a score to pay off 

 against the species. Upon this occasion, however, I 

 felt mercifully inclined, so took the young bird, which 

 was nearly covered with feathers, and offered it bread 

 soaked in milk. This it swallowed greedily. When 



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