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The nefts of little birds feem of more elegant 
workmanfhip than thofe of the larger kinds. As 
the volume of their bodies is fmaller, the mate- 
rials of which their nefts are compofed are gene- 
rally warmer, in order to maintain and preferve 
the neceffary heat. But if fometimes happens 
that the little architeds are difturbed in their ope- 
rations ; and then they are obliged to form their 
nefts, not according to their inclinations, but 
their urgent occafions. The bird whofe neft has 
b/en repeatedly robbed, conftrucls her laft in a 
Very flovenly manner; confcious that, from the 
near approach of v/inter, fhe muft not fpend her 
time in private accommiodation and extrinfic or- 
nament. When the neft is finiftied, nothing can 
exceed the cunning which the male and female 
employ in order to conceal it. If built in a bufii, 
the pliant branches are fo difpofed as to conceal it 
entirely from the view; and, if among mofs, no- 
thing is externally viftble that may indicate a ha- 
bitation : it is always fixed near thofe places where 
food is to be procured with moft facility; and the 
greateft care is taken to hide it's fituation by quit- 
ting it while any plunderer is in fight. 
The firft food of all birds of the Sparrow kind 
(Confifts- of v/orms and infeils. Even the Sparrow 
and the goldfinch, which, when adult, feed only 
on grain, have both fubfifted on infe£ls in their 
tender ftate. The young ones, for fome time af- 
ter their exclufion from the fliell, require no food ; 
but the parent foon difcovers, by their chirping 
and opening their mouths, that they begin to 
feel the approach of hunger; and feduloufly fets 
about providing them wirh a plentiful fupply.^ 
Such is the manner in which thefe birds bring 
forth and hatch their young: but it_ yet remains 
to udier them from the neft into life, and this 
they very afliduoufty perform. When fully 
fledged, and fit for fhort flights, the old ones, in 
favourable weather, condud them a few yards 
from the neft, and then compel them to return. 
For two or three days fuccelTively they are led 
forth in the fame manner, but each day to more 
diftant adventures : and, whenever the parents per- 
ceive their ability to fly and provide for them- 
felves, they bid them a perpetual adieu, and pay 
no more attention to them than to the reft of the 
flock. 
In general, when birds fet about pairing in the 
fpring, they aflTociate with thofe of their own age 
and place of abode. Their firength or courage 
is generally proportionate to their age; the oldeft 
females firft feel the acceflTes of defire; and the 
fenior males are the moft intrepid in driving off 
the junior pretenders. Thofe next in courage 
and defire fet up their pretenfions, till they are all 
accommodated in their turn. The youngeft 
come laft, as being the lateft in their inclinations. 
But ftill there are feveral, both males and females, 
which remain unprovided for; either not happen- 
ing to meet with each other, or at leaft not dur- 
ino- the genial interval. Whether thefe mix 
with fmall birds of a different fpecies, is a que- 
ftion which naturalifts have not as yet been able 
fully to refolve. The larger birds are generally 
allowed to be chafte in their manners; but, among 
the fmaller tribes, it requires very little trouble to 
form a fpecies between two; as a goldfinch and a 
canary-bird, a linnet and a lark. They fre- 
quently breed together; and produce a race, not 
like mules among quadrupeds, incapableof breed- 
ing again ; for this motley mixture is as prolific 
SPA 
as the parents. What is fo eafily effected hf 
art, very probably often happens in a ftate of na- 
ture; and accordingly, when a male cannot find 
a mate of his own fpecies, he flies to one of ano- 
ther, that, like himfelf, has been neglefted in 
pairing. According to fome naturalifts, this is 
the fource of that great variety of finall birds we 
ufually fee: fome uncommon mixture might firft 
have formed a new fpecies; and this might have 
been continued by birds of this fpecies chufing 
to breed together. For the authenticity of this 
opinion we vv'ill not vouch; but of this we are 
certain, that many of the Sparrow tribe bear a 
ftrojig refemblance to each other in their figures, 
manners, and appetites. 
The following are the moft curious fpecies, 
which retain the appropriate appellation of Spar- 
rows. 
Sparrow, Common, or House; the Fringilla 
Domeftica of Linnaeus. The male has a bfack' 
bill; the crown of the head is grey; under each 
eye there is a black fpot; and above the angle of 
each appears a broad bright bay mark, furround- 
ing the hind-part of the head. The cheeks are 
white; the chin and under-fide of the neck are 
black; the belly is of a dirty white hue; and the 
leffer coverts of the wings are a bright bay, the 
two laft rows being black tipt with white. The 
great coverts are black,, outwardly edged with, 
red ; the quill-feathers are of the fame colour; the 
back is fpotted with red and black; and the tail 
is dufky. 
With regard to the female, the lower mandible 
of the bill is white; beyond each eye there is aline 
of white; the head, and the whole upper part, arc 
brown, except a few black fpors on the back; the 
black and white marks on the wings are obfcure^ 
and the lower fide of the body is of a dirty white 
hue. 
Sparrows are falacious to a proverb. They 
breed early in the fpring; make their nefts under 
the eaves of houfes ; in holes of walls ; and fre- 
quently in the nefts of martins, after expelling 
the owners. Linnasus, on the authority of Alber- 
tus Magnus, informs us, that this infult does not 
pafs unrevenged : the injured m.artin affembles 
it's companions, who unite in plaiftering up the 
entrance with dirt ; then fly away, twittering in- 
triumph, and leave the invader to a miferable 
fate. Sparrows alfo build in plum.b and apple- 
trees, in the old nefts of rooks, and in the forks- 
of boughs beneath them. 
Sparrow, Tree; the Fringilla Montana of 
Linnasus. This bird is fmaller than the common 
Sparrow : the bill is thick and black ; the crown 
of the head, the hind part of the neck, and the 
leffer coverts of the wings, are of a bright bay co- 
lour, the two fini being plain, and the laft fpotted 
with black. The chin is black; the cheeks and 
fides of the head are white, marked with a large 
black fpot beneath each ear ; and the breaft and 
belly are of a dirty white hue. Juft above the 
greater coverts there is a row of black feathers, 
edged with white ; the greater quills are black, 
bordered with ruft-colour; the quill-feathers are 
duflcy, edged with pale red ; the lower part of the 
back is of an olive brown hue ; the tail is brown 
and the legs are ftraw-coloured. 
Thefe birds are common in Lincolnfliire,^ 
among trees ; where they colled in large flocks, 
like the coir.mon kind. 
SparroWj Hedge ; the Motacilla Modularis. 
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