THE SPARROW 83 
not equally noticeable wherever it is met with, 
but whereas at home it becomes almost a pest from 
its numbers, here it is not so noticeable, and its 
jaunty, sprightly air and carriage are often in 
agreeable contrast to the depressing squalor and 
monochrome, dismal surroundings. So here it gets 
blessings and not cursings poured on its head, and 
no one calls it “ Avian Rat,” or any other rude 
name. I have pictured it as I often saw it, 
playing in and out of the decorated temple walls, 
in a cleft of which possibly it was born, and the 
pictures of which it can honestly say it has been 
familiar with from earliest childhood. One cannot 
help but speculating, does the Sparrow recognize 
in the painting its arch-enemy, for the pictured 
Hawk shown may well, as far as form is concerned, 
be meant for a Sparrow Hawk ; which Hawk, true 
to its name, takes daily toll of all small birds and of 
Sparrows in particular. I remember well one day 
at the Ramaseum where I was painting—the quick 
passing shadow and the instant silencing of the 
cheery chattering of a host of Sparrows that were 
all sitting on a small bush just near me, and look- 
ing up, I saw a Sparrow Hawk dash away with a 
Sparrow in its talons, whilst the others were 
flying precipitately away in all directions. The 
