40 



THE YOUNG FLORIST. 



H. Not only should we be deprived of their 

 animating songs, but worms and other insects 

 would so increase, that the labors of the hus- 

 bandman and gardener would almost be in 

 vain, and the foliage of the trees would be so 

 disfigured by the caterpillar, canker worm and 

 other greedy insects, as to present a sad and 

 melancholy aspect. 



M. I should not think the little birds could 

 make so much difference in that respect. 



H. You would be astonished to know how 

 many caterpillars and other insects are con- 

 sumed by a single pair of sparrows and their 

 young in one day. 



M. Do you suppose any person ever knew ? 



H. Yes, very nearly ; I recollect of reading 

 once of a person, who took his seat near the 

 nest of a sparrow, and watched them all day, 

 and kept an account of all that were consumed. 

 The old ones were busy picking young 



