SPARROW. 
75 
Throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Orkney and Shetland 
Islands it is to he found as in England. In the outer 
Hebrides it is said to have been known only at Kilbar, in the 
Island of Barra, where it had made its abode in a ruined 
church, thus fulfilling literally the words of the Psalmist, 
‘Yea, the Sparrow hath found her a house, and the Swallow 
a nest where she may lay her young; even Thy altars O Lord 
of Hosts, my King and my Grod. 5 It now appears to be 
multiplying in that district. 
Following the methodical arrangement prescribed to myself 
in the introduction to the present ‘History of British Birds, 5 
at this stage of the narrative of the Sparrow, I have arrived 
at that portion of my, alas! too brief, allotted space, which 
is assigned to the subject of migration. But on this head 
little could be said: where is the Sparrow to migrate to or 
from, for where is he not to be found? 
Wherever this bird is met with, his character is as I have 
said, much the same—bold, pert, and familiar; ‘instead of 
the gentle and pleasing confidence displayed towards the 
human race by the Redbreast, the Nightingale, the Redstart, 
and some other small birds, the Sparrow shews a bold dis¬ 
regard that is far from engaging affection; as if our kindness 
and our enmity were alike despised. Instances are not wanting, 
however, of great attachment on the part of caged Sparrows 
for persons by whom they have been reared. 5 
In London, where, as in most large towns, they abound, 
one has been known to perch on and under the moveable 
‘cafe 5 of one of those examples of ‘London labour and the 
London poor, 5 who deserve far more commiseration than I 
fear even Mr. Mayhew’s very able work will earn for them 
—from some at least—and there pick up its crumbs; nay, 
not only was it wont thus daily and hourly to do, but it 
was even accustomed to go the length of a whole street to 
meet him and it on the way from his home—from his nightly 
home to his daily one—whenever, and as often as he was 
detained, perhaps by the severity of a winter’s morning. It 
would then ride back in the ‘cafe, 5 wheeled along by him, to 
receive the reliques of the early meal which some industrious 
man would snatch on his way to his work—-to ‘gather up the 
crumbs, 5 though not from a ‘rich man’s table. 5 The Sparrow 
used to feed out of the hand of the said honest Patrick 
Corbett, to sit on his knee, and drink out of his cup; ‘she 
was unto him as a daughter. 5 I say she, for it was a hen 
