84 
SPARROW. 
multitude of twenty-one millions, one hundred and sixty- 
eight thousand larvrn prevented from destroying the products 
of the land, and from increasing their numbers from fifty to 
five hundred fold!’ 
Thus again, in the next article in the same magazine, Mr. 
Joseph Duff, of Bishop Auckland, writing from that place, 
November 15th., 1848, gives a calculation made by himself* 
some years previously, as follows, he says, ‘Under the eaves 
were two Sparrows’ nests, and, not having any other part of 
animated nature in view, I set myself the task of counting 
how often the Sparrows visited their nests with food during 
half an hour. One male bird, which was darker than the 
other, thus enabling me to distinguish him, captured fourteen 
flies on the wing, and the four birds went from their nests 
to a water-spout and back one hundred and four times.’ He 
then goes on to calculate that if the common large flies, of 
which he ascertained that these were the larvae, ‘are as prolific 
as the common house fly, which is computed to produce in 
one season no less than twenty millions nine hundred thousand 
—but say in round numbers twenty millions—thus were pre¬ 
vented, by the capture of fourteen flies, the amazing number 
of two hundred and eighty millions.’ 
But even two Counsel will not suffice our Sparrow—his 
cause is a good one, but he has many and powerful enemies 
to plead against. Further, then, Mr. Edward Peacock, Jun., 
of Messingham, Kirton-in-Lindsay, Lincolnshire, February, 
1849:—T had not waited long before one came, darted under 
a tile, and in a few seconds flew away again. ‘Well,’ thought 
1, ‘now is my time to catch the young rascals;’ so up I 
climbed to the roof of the building, and drew out the nest, 
which contained four newly-hatched Sparrows. I took the 
young ones in my hands, when, lo! a green caterpillar crept 
from the mouth of one. I killed the four young birds, and 
each had caterpillars in it: this caused me to relent a little; 
but what struck me much more forcibly was, finding several 
wire-worms loose in the nest, which had obviously escaped 
from the young ones.’ And yet again, the same Mr. Duff, 
of Bishop Auckland, at pages 2415-16, ‘About a quarter of 1 
a mile east of this place is a round tower, standing on the ? 
Bishop of Durham’s domain, and near the park wall: it had 
been in a dilapidated state for many years, and in the crevices 
were many both Starling and Sparrow nests—of the latter j 
some scores. It was an object of interest to his present 
