DANCERS 63 



all grains in inaccessible containers. The object 

 sought is to prevent this rodent, through the me- 

 dium of its parasitic flea, from acting as a purveyor 

 of bubonic plague. The sparrow, however, is doing 

 the most effective part of the work by consuming 

 every particle of scattered grain throughout the 

 streets and around barns and granaries, and also all 

 food products derived from grain, which are strewn 

 more or less plentifully over the surface of the 

 ground in every yard, street and dumping place. 

 Not only are rats and mice thus prevented from ob- 

 taining sustenance, but the attracting, breeding and 

 multiplication of house and other flies and various 

 other insects are prevented." 



Love plays a prominent part in the active life 

 of the sparrow; he courts from morning until night, 

 if he is unmated. He bows and scrapes and pa- 

 rades himself before his love in all the glory of his 

 rich brown uniform trimmed in white and tan 

 stripes, with such perseverance that the shyest spar- 

 row belle could not resist his wooing. As soon as 

 she accepts him, they fly away to a suitable place 

 to begin preparing their cosy apartment — as he 

 also is an apartment dweller like man. 



As soon as a young family is started, the father 

 and mother work from early dawn to sunset feed- 

 ing the babes. If other birds come near the nest, 



