The Flouse Sparrow. 79 
look round to see if anything suited to its taste is near ; 
if not, it takes another run, perhaps this time having a 
peck, and off again. If it is fortunate enough to come 
across an ear of wheat, it will make itself very busy for 
a short time, if not disturbed, pecking out the grains 
and swallowing them whole; but should other Spar- 
rows feel disposed to partake of a few kernels of that 
particular ear, the one that has it in possession takes 
to its wings, flying off with its treasure in its beak, 
pursued: by the opponents; this flight does not gene- 
rally last long, for it soon sinks to the ground, making 
sure of one more grain, when another picks up the 
remainder and carries it off, most likely pursued by 
the first finder: this is done apparently with an 
understanding that it should be peck for peck. Any 
schoolboy wishing to see this amusing circumstance, 
if not near a farm-yard, has only to throw a crust of 
bread out of his window on to the snow below, and he 
will soon be laughing at the Sparrows, for it will be a 
wonder if several do not take a fancy to the crust. 
In the month of February how often do we hear a 
great to-do in some bush close by, and, this having 
called our attention, we see a few Sparrows going to 
the place whence this uproar springs, and we find it is 
