226 
SPARROWS. 
insects, only one grain of wheat, and a few of sand found. In 
the second, the gizzard was become vastly more muscular, and 
contained nine grains of wheat whole, besides some smaller 
pieces, the remains of several beetles, and some larger gravel- 
stones. 
A Sparrow is not only hold with regard to men, hut still 
more so, on particular occasions, towards other birds. On 
the edge of a certain lawn grew a close thick hush. On this 
lawn, amongst others, the Blackbird used to come and forage 
for worms. One day a person happened to he looking at a 
Blackbird in the act of making off with a prize, when a 
Sparrow, darting from the thick hush, instantly assailed the 
Blackbird, and compelled him to drop the worm, of which he 
took immediate possession. So singular a circumstance induced 
the observer to look out now and then, when Blackbirds 
came, and he frequently saw the same piratical practice 
adopted by the Sparrow, who thus, by keeping watch in his 
hush, was enabled to enrich himself on the labours of the 
larger bird. But, notwithstanding this unfavourable feature 
in his character, he has been known to act with great con- 
sideration and kindness to birds requiring his good offices. 
In the Naturalists Magazine we find the following story 
in point: — “ A lady, living in Chelsea, was extremely fond 
of birds, of which she kept a considerable number in cages. 
Amongst others she had a Canary, which was a particular 
favourite, hut the loudness of his note often obliged her to 
put him outside of her window, in some trees which were 
trained up in front of her house. One morning, during 
breakfast, when the cage was there placed, a Sparrow was 
observed to fly round about it, then perch upon the top, and 
twitter to the bird within, between whom and itself a sort 
of conversation seemed to ensue. After a few moments he 
flew away, hut returned in a short time, hearing a worm or 
small grub in his hill, which he dropped into the cage, and 
immediately flew away. Similar presents were received day 
after day, at the same time, by the Canary, from his friend 
the Sparrow, with whom, at length, he became so intimate, 
that he very often received the food, thus brought, into his 
