LONDON'S LITTLE BIRDS 107 



that the mortahty, presumably from starvation, 

 is very considerable. During December and 

 January the London night is nearly seventeen 

 hours in length, as it is sooner dark and later 

 light than in the country ; while in cold and 

 foggy weather the birds feed little or not at all. 

 They keep in their roosting-holes, and yet they do 

 not appear to suflfer. After a spell of frosty and 

 very dark weather I have counted the sparrows 

 I am accustomed to observe, and found none 

 missing. 



But the sparrow's chief advantage over other 

 species doubtless lies in his greater intelligence. 

 That ineradicable suspicion with which he 

 regards the entire human race, and which one is 

 sometimes inclined to set down to sheer stupidity, 

 is, in the circumstances he exists in, his best 

 policy. He has good cause to doubt the friendli- 

 ness of his human neighbours, and his principle 

 is, not to run risks ; when in doubt, keep away. 

 Thus, when the roads are swept the sparrows will 

 go to the dirt and rubbish heaps, and search in 

 them for food ; then they will fly up to any 

 window-sill and eat the bread they find put 

 there for them. But let them see any rubbish 

 of any description there, anything but bread — a 



