SPARROWS. 
19 
establish himself wherever chance may happen to 
place him. If he lives remote from towns and 
cities, and the habitations of men, a tree answers his 
purpose, and a comfortable nest he will there build, 
with the rare addition of an arched top into the 
bargain, which possibly he may have learned from 
that knowing bird, the Magpie. In default of a tree, 
or a house ; a chink in a rock, or a hole in a wall, 
suits him; but after all, the nooks and eaves of 
buildings are his favourite resorts; 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 preparation. 
But some London Sparrows aspire still higher, 
one pair having actually built in the Lion’s mouth, 
over Northumberland House, at Charing Cross. A 
still more extraordinary place was pitched upon by 
a North-country couple. A coal-vessel from New- 
castle, 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 re- 
mained in port. This occasioned no great surprise 
to the crew; but after putting to sea, the two Spar- 
rows 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 be- 
came much more familiar, and descended boldly for 
