SPARROWS. 
21 
bird, in tbe act of making off with a prize, when a 
Sparrow, darting from the thick bush, instantly as- 
sailed 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 
bush, was enabled to enrich himself on the labours 
of the larger bird. But notwithstanding this unfa- 
vourable feature in his character, he has been known 
to act with great consideration and kindness to birds 
requiring his good offices. 
In the Naturalist's Magazine , we find the fol- 
lowing 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, but 
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, but returned in a short time, bearing a worm 
or small grub in his bill, 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 own bilk 
