THE TREE SP.VRROW. 263 



Their solicitations were ui-ged incessantly, and 

 they flew again and again, from tlie cage, to a 

 neiglilK>uring chimney-pot, as if to show the pupil 

 how this miglit Le done. At last he took courage, 

 and reached the post in safety. Next day another 

 young bird was released, and again the same scene 

 followed, until all the foiu- young ones were freed 

 from captivity, and became tenants of air. But 

 never again did spaiTOw or nestling revisit that 

 cage. It had no pleasing associations to endear it, 

 and they had learned too well the worth of free- 

 dom, again to risk its loss. 



The nest of the sparrow is made of straw, and 

 placed sometimes in trees, and often in ivy, or 

 under the eaves of houses. 



The Tree SpaiTow* or ^lountaiu SpaiTOw [Pas- 

 ser montanus) has a little more ' pretension to be 

 called a song bird, than has the house species. 

 Mr. Blytli says that its notes are not altogether 

 despicable, being far superior to those of the 

 bramblc-iincli. Like the common species, he re- 

 marks, it has a great variety of chirrups ; one of 



• The Tree Sparrow is distinguished from the house sparrow 

 by a brighter plumage, and by having the sides of the neck 

 handsomely striped and clouded with black and pure white. 



