22 SPARROWS. 



from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance attracted 

 the notice of the lady's neighbours, who often 

 watched these daily visits; and some of them, to try 

 the extent of the Sparrow's kindness, also hung their 

 birds out at the window, when they found them also 

 fed; hut the first and longest visit was always paid 

 by the Sparrow to his original friend the Canary. 



" Though thus intimate and social with his own 

 kind, it was observed that this- Sparrow was exceed- 

 ingly shy and timid with respect to human beings; 

 for though many were witnesses of the above, they 

 were obliged to keep at a distance, and use great 

 caution, otherwise he immediately flew away. This 

 attention was carried on throughout the Summer, 

 and extended to the beginning of Autumn, when the 

 visits entirely ceased, whether intentionally on the 

 part of the Sparrow, or that he met with some acci- 

 dent, could not be ascertained." 



That they will attend to their young, far beyond 

 the usual period, in case of necessity, the following 

 anecdote will prove, though we believe many, if not 

 most birds, will do the same, under similar circum- 

 stances; the experiment may be easily tried, by 

 slightly tying the wings of young birds, when nearly 

 fledged, or confining them by a thread to the bottom 

 of the nest, taking care not to injure them. A pair 

 of Sparrows, which had built in the thatched roof of 

 a house, were observed to continue their regular 

 visits to the nest, long after the time when the 

 young birds ought naturally to have taken flight. 

 This unusual circumstance continued throughout the 

 year, and in the Winter, a gentleman, who had all 

 along observed them, determined on finding out the 



