THE COCK-SPARROW. 



and then we gain a foothold in the newly 

 acquired lands, and naturally oust the un- 

 civilized natives. We have annexed America, 

 and are killing out inferior types in many 

 other regions. What do I mean by inferior 

 types ? Why, non-sparrows, of course ; such 

 lower grades, don't you know, as Australians 

 and New Zealanders." 



" Excuse my asking a delicate question, 

 but do you do much damage, from the 

 farmer's point of view, to the crops and the 

 gardens ? You see, we men have a narrow- 

 minded way of regarding these things from 

 a somewhat restricted human standpoint." 



The sparrow gazed at me hard out of the 

 corner of his eye. " Well, I don't want it 

 put in print," he said confidentially, "for 

 farmers are so unreasonable ; but I will 

 admit that at certain times of the year we 

 do pick up a good many seeds out of fields 

 and gardens. But then, consider how many 

 insects we help to eat up. Why, I lived for 

 a week last year upon aphides what the 

 233 



