THE COMMOX SPARROTV. 171 



of straw and hay, and lined with feathers, and so nicely managed as 

 to be a defence against both wind and rain. Sparrows sometimes form 

 their nest in the bottoms of Books' nests ; and this seems a favorite 

 situation with them. 



Mr. Smellie relates a pleasing anecdote of the affection of these 

 birds towards their offspring: "When I was a boy, (says this gentle- 

 man,) I carried off a nest of young Sparrows, about a mile from my 

 place of residence. After the nest was completely moved, and while 

 I was marching home with them in triumph, I perceived, with some 

 degree of astonishment, both the parents following me at some 

 distance, and observing my motions in perfect silence. A thought 

 then struck me, that they might follow me home, and feed the young 

 according to their usual manner. When just entering the door I 

 held up the nest, and made the young-ones utter the cry which is 

 expressive of the desire of food. I immediately put the nest and the 

 young in the corner of a wire cage, and placed it on the outside of a 

 window. I chose a situation in the room where I could perceive all 

 that should happen, without being myself seen. The young birds 

 soon cried for food. In a short time both parents, having their bills 

 filled with small Caterpillars, came to the cage; and after chatting a 

 little, as we would do with a friend through the lattice of a prison, 

 gave a small worm to each. This parental intercourse continued regu- 

 larly for some time; till the young-ones were completely fledged, and 

 had acquired a considerable degree of strength. I then took one of 

 the strongest of them, and placed him on the outside of the cage, in 

 order to observe the conduct of the parents after one of their offspring 

 was emancipated. In a few minutes both parents arrived, loaded, as 

 usual, with food. They no sooner perceived that one of their children 

 had escaped from prison, than they fluttered about, and made a thou- 

 sand noisy demonstrations of joy, both with their wings and their 

 voices. These tumultuous expressions of unexpected happiness at 

 last gave place to a more calm and soothing conversation. By their 

 voices and their movements it was evident that they earnestly en- 

 treated him to follow them, and to fly from his present dangerous 

 state. He seemed to be impatient to obey their mandates; but by his 

 gestures, and the feeble sounds he uttered, he plainly expressed that 

 he was afraid to try an exertion he had never before attempted. 

 They, however, incessantly repeated their solicitations: by flying 

 alternately from the cage to a neighboring chimney-top, they endeav- 

 ored to show him how easily the journey was to be accomplished. 

 He at last committed himself to the air, and alighted in safety. On 

 his arrival, another scene of clamorous and active joy was exhibited. 

 Next day I repeated the same experiment, by exposing another of 

 the young-ones on the top of the cage. I observed the same conduct 

 with the remainder of the brood, which consisted of four. I need 

 hardly add, that not one either of the parents or children ever after- 

 wards re- visited the execrated ca^e." 



The sparrow will attach itself to man, but never sufficiently so to 

 overlook the precaution necessary for its safety ; it is ever upon its guard, 

 and the least excitement will alarm and cause its instant flight. 



