EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN 183 



possession. He would not be in possession and 

 so predominant if he had not these qualities, and 

 great pliability of instinct and readiness to seize 

 on vacant places. Nevertheless, even with the 

 sturdy sparrow a very small thing might turn the 

 scale, particularly if we were standing by and 

 putting a little artificial pressure on one side of 

 the balance; for it must be borne in mind that 

 the very extent and diversity of the ground he 

 occupies is a proof that he does not occupy it 

 effectually, and that his position is not too strong 

 to be shaken. It is not probable that our action 

 in assisting one side against the other would go 

 far in its results; still, a little might be done. 

 There are gardens and grounds in the suburbs of 

 London where sparrows are not abundant, and 

 are shyer than the birds of other species, and 

 this result has been brought about by means of a 

 little judicious persecution. Shooting is a bad 

 plan, even with an air-gun ; its effects are seen by 

 all the birds, for they see more from their green 

 hiding-places than we imagine, and it creates a 

 general alarm among them. Those who wish to 

 give the other birds a chance will only defeat 

 their own object by shooting the sparrows. A 



