38 DUR FRIENDS, THE BIRDS. 
towns, we still find all of our native birds. If they are 
not so plentiful as they once were it is more the fault 
of man than of the English Sparrow, for if we go out 
to the fields and woods, a short distance from any 
dwelling, we seldom hear a Sparrow. Many city 
children would never have a glimpse of birdlife if there 
were no Sparrows. This is ‘their excuse for being.’”’ 
‘Some folks say they are quarrelsome,” remarked 
“Baby,” “but I’ve watched them for hours and I 
never saw them disagreeable. Only the other morn- 
ing one lit on top of the piazza, in front of my window. 
It had a piece of hard bread in its mouth, which 
it laid down and began to peck at. I suppose it was 
all the breakfast it was likely to get. Pretty soon 
aed another one came and tried to get some of the bread, 
but the first Sparrow picked it up, and turning his back 
on the other, tried to finish its breakfast. 
The other one looked about a little 
while, and-then made another attempt -@ 
to secure some of the bread, which was 
evaded as before. Just then another 
one came and began to bother in the * 
same way. The first Sparrow 
picked up its bread, 
flew to the farthest 
=, Uae 
