148 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



by these feathered pilferers. If alarmed, these 

 flocks of birds crowd upon the nearest hedges 

 and trees, to return, however, in scattered order 

 as soon as the danger has passed. The House 

 Sparrow is certainly one of the most thriving 

 species in the county, present everywhere, in at- 

 tendance on man. It may be found breeding from 

 the ocean cliffs to the highest moorland cottages. 

 In the towns it breeds practically all the year 

 round, if the weather is mild and open. We see 

 this bird repairing its nest in midwinter, and have 

 records of the young at the same date. Brood 

 after brood is reared in rapid succession, and every 

 available spot is utilised for nesting purposes. The 

 Sparrow's increase, however, can be viewed without 

 alarm in such a pastoral county ; whilst the un- 

 doubted good the bird works is considerable. The 

 horticulturist more especially should welcome the 

 Sparrow. It is one of the deadliest enemies to 

 aphides that exists, and its callow young are to 

 a great extent reared on that special insect food. 

 Many a season we have had to thank the House 

 Sparrow for our crop of roses ; had the birds not 

 cleared the trees of these pests, not a bloom, nor 

 scarce a sound leaf, would have opened. We 



