PERCHING BIRDS. 115 



rence, and that he in the presence of several individuals, 

 some of whom he named, took the dead bird out of the 

 nest. The truth of it is further confirmed by Mr. John 

 Ray, nailer, in Linlithgow, who told me he was also 

 present when it happened." 



What I have said about its boldness is well proved by 

 the following incident, which occurred at the vicarage of 

 Beeston, near Nottingham, in August, 1859. Numerous 

 flocks of sparrows had frequented the grounds, and the 

 cat belonging to the house had been watching their 

 arrival, and seized every opportunity of pouncing upon 

 them. She was at the foot of a tree one day looking up 

 at the sparrows, and doubtless on murderous deeds intent, 

 which they seemed to divine, for in a few minutes they 

 descended en masse. As the birds came within reach 

 the cat made a spring at them ; but the tables were 

 now turned, for so fierce and pertinacious was their 

 attack, so^closely did they follow up their enemy, hem- 

 ming her in on all sides, that she was perfectly cowed, 

 and compelled to seek safety by springing through a 

 window, leaving the victory to her brave little as- 

 sailants. 



I knew a few years since an instance of the power of 

 imitation which the sparrow possesses. A young one 

 was brought up by a person at Newark from the nest, 

 its place being always in a cage by the side of a skylark. 

 Here it learnt the song of the lark, and would repeat it 

 so accurately that if you did not see the bird it was im- 

 possible for a time to tell whether it was the lark or the 

 sparrow that was singing. Often have I heard and ad- 

 mired its surprising imitation, when suddenly it would 

 cease its song and utter the usual harsh chirrup of its 

 race. Sometimes its sweet song would be frequently 



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