SPARROWS. 21 



bird, in the act of making off with a prize, when a 

 Sparrow, darting from the thick bush, instantly as- 

 sailed the Blackbird, and compelled him to drop the 

 worm, of which he took immediate possession. So 

 singular a circumstance induced the observer to look 

 out now and then, when Blackbirds came, and he 

 frequently saw the same piratical practice adopted 

 by the Sparrow, who thus, by keeping watch in his 

 bush, was enabled to enrich himself on the labours 

 of the larger bird. But notwithstanding this unfa- 

 vourable feature in his character, he has been known 

 to act with great consideration and kindness to birds 

 requiring his good offices. 



In the Naturalist's Magazine, we find the fol- 

 lowing story in point. " A lady, living in Chelsea, 

 was extremely fond of birds, of which she kept a 

 considerable number in cages. Amongst others she 

 had a Canary, which was a particular favourite, but 

 the loudness of his note often obliged her to put him 

 outside of her window, in some trees which were 

 trained up in front of her house. One morning, 

 during breakfast, when the cage was there placed, a 

 Sparrow was observed to fly round about it, then 

 perch upon the top, and twitter to the bird within, 

 between whom and itself a sort of conversation 

 seemed to ensue. After a few moments he flew 

 away, but returned in a short time, bearing a worm 

 or small grub in his bill, which he dropped into the 

 cage, and immediately flew away. Similar presents 

 were received day after day, at the same time, by 

 the Canary, from his friend the Sparrow, with whom, 

 at length, he became so intimate, that he very often 

 received the food, thus brought, into his own bill, 



