THE BIRD OF THE STREET. 195 



watching with a glass at length revealed a small 

 reddish head, with very sharp eyes, occupying 

 the doorway of the cottage, and after some time 

 the owner of these features calmly stepped out 

 on the veranda and showed himself, a small 

 red squirrel, with a silver collar, which pro- 

 claimed him an escaped pet. He looked thin, 

 with a tail almost as bare as a rat's. He had 

 evidently not fared well in captivity, and I re- 

 joiced in his freedom. 



But the sparrow world had decided to eject 

 him from the neighborhood, and faithfully, with 

 true sparrow doggedness, they worked at this 

 problem. No sooner did he appear than they 

 resumed their attack, flying around him, scream- 

 ing and making quick dashes at him. He was 

 somewhat disconcerted, and ran up a long 

 branch, followed by the whole gang, which 

 grew more bold as he apparently retreated, 

 dashing ever nearer as though to peck him, but 

 never actually touching him. While he was 

 running they were very bold, but the moment 

 he sat up and faced them they drew off a little, 

 though they never went quite away. For sev- 

 eral days not a movement of his escaped their 

 notice. It was amusing to see how quickly the 

 smallest stir on his part was announced to the 

 world. " There he is ! He 's coming out ! " 

 one could easily understand, and every sparrow 



