90 BIRDS' NESTS. 



CHAPTER VI. 



EGGS WHITE, SPOTTED WITH RED, BROWN, OR BLACK. 



HOUSE SPARROW. Pyrgita domestica. 

 PLATE II. FIG. 2. 



THIS familiar, nay saucy little bird, would 

 seem to have lived so long in the society of 

 man, as to have learnt to imitate him in the 

 variety of his dwellings. No place conies 

 amiss to it. Does a chimney smoke when we 

 light our first autumnal fire? ten to one 

 that a pair of these birds has not stuffed 

 it up with a bundle of hay and feathers. 

 Is a leaden spout found to be choked? 

 a house-sparrow, in all probability, is the 

 culprit. Does a wooden shoot unexpectedly 

 overflow during a thunderstorm ? no one is 

 to blame but those troublesome sparrows. A 

 pigeon-house is left unoccupied; but before 

 a season has passed, a troop of house-sparrows 



