SPARROWS. 
225 * 
sorts : accordingly, in London, where he has his choice, he 
will often select droll places. Amidst the carved foliage 
of the capital of some Corinthian column, a projection of 
straws, with now and then a feather, announce a nest in pre- 
paration. 
But some London Sparrows aspire still higher, one pair 
having actually built in the Lion’s mouth, over Northumber- 
land House at Charing Cross. A still more extraordinary place 
was pitched upon by a north-country couple. A coal-vessel 
from Newcastle, put into Nairn, in Scotland, and while there, 
two Sparrows were frequently observed to alight on the top 
of the vessel’s mast, while the vessel remained in port. This 
occasioned no great surprise to the crew ; but, after putting 
to sea, the two Sparrows were seen following the sloop, and, 
having come up with her, resumed their posts at the top 
of the mast. Crumbs of bread were scattered upon the deck, 
with a view of enticing them down, of which they soon availed 
themselves ; and, after eating heartily, again returned to the 
mast-head. By the time the vessel had been two days at 
sea, they became much more familiar, and descended boldly 
for the purpose of feeding. The voyage was a long one, 
lasting for some days ; when, on reaching the river Tyne, to 
which they were hound, the nest with four young ones, was 
carefully taken down, and being put, in the presence of 
the old birds, into the crevice of a ruined house, on the hanks 
of the river, they continued to rear their brood. 
When thus upon the subject of young Sparrows, we may 
direct attention to the very rapid growth of their feathers in 
hot weather. On the ninth of August, a young one was taken 
from a nest, with neither down nor feathers upon it, the 
rudiments only of plumage being visible under the skin, on 
the hack of the head, and along the hack ; on the side of the 
wings, the shafts of the quills had just pierced the skin. 
Eight days after, another young one was taken from the same 
nest, covered with feathers, and able to make some use of its 
wings. Another circumstance is worthy of notice. The old 
ones had adapted the food to their powers of digestion. The 
stomach of the first was weak, and filled almost entirely with 
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