SPARROWS. 
227 
own bill, from that of the Sparrow. The circumstance 
t attracted the notice of tbe lady’s neighbours, who often 
watched these daily visits; and some of them, to try the 
extent of the Sparrow’s kindness, also hung their birds out 
at the window, when they found them also fed ; but the first 
and longest visit was always paid by the Sparrow to his 
original friend the Canary. 
“ Though thus intimate and social with his own kind, it 
was observed that this Sparrow was exceedingly shy and 
i timid with respect to human beings ; for, though many were 
i witnesses to the above, they were obliged to keep at a dis- 
tance, and use great caution, otherwise he immediately flew 
away. This attention was carried on throughout the Summer, 
and extended to the beginning of Autumn, when the visits 
entirely ceased, whether intentionally on the part of the 
! Sparrow, or that he met with some accident, could not be 
ascertained.” 
That they will attend to their young far beyond the usual 
i period, in case of necessity, the following anecdote will 
i prove, though we believe many, if not most birds, will do 
the same, under similar circumstances ; the experiment may 
be easily tried, by slightly tying the wings of young birds, 
when nearly fledged, or confining them by a thread to the 
bottom of the nest, taking care not to injure them. A pair 
of Sparrows, which had built in the thatched roof of a house, 
were observed to continue their regular visits to the nest 
long after the time when the young birds ought naturally to 
have taken flight. This unusual circumstance continued 
throughout the year ; and, in the Winter, a gentleman, who 
had all along observed them, determined on finding out the 
cause. He therefore placed a ladder, and, on mounting, 
: found one of the young ones detained a prisoner, by means 
i of a string, or scrap of worsted, which formed part of the 
nest, having become accidentally twisted round its leg. Being 
thus disabled from procuring its own living, it had been fed 
by the continued exertions of the parents. 
An unfortunate Sparrow, who had also been made pri- 
soner in his own nest, met with a very different fate, being 
Q 2 
