tok §=THE NATURAL HISTORY 
Tn Lorraine Black Sparrows are frequent 
found, but the colour perhaps may be only exter 
nal, and the effe& of fmoke, fince there are many 
gilafs-houfes there, which they frequent, _ hence 
their feathers may be difeoloured.» _ 
The Sparrow is never found in any places that 
are far from the habitations of men; they do not 
frequent woods, or large extended plains ; but 
like rats, eftablith themf{clves about our houfes, 
~ in order to fubfift at our expence. They infeft the 
corn in the Orknies by thoufands, but were un- 
known in Siberia, until the Ruffians attraGled 
them by the cultivation of corn. 
As they are very indolent, and very greedy, it 
‘Ys upon the labours of others that they with to 
— fubfift; they frequent our barns, our corn ricks, 
our poultry yards, and dove houfes; they follow 
the labourer when he fows, the mowers during 
the harvedt, the threfhers in the barn, and obferve 
the poultry ‘when they are fed. They even piercé 
the crops of young Pigeons to take out the oraily 

and prey upon bees, an infect peculiarly ufeful 
tous. Of all birds they are the moft mifchiew 
ous, and yet of all the mot dificult to deftroy, 
or toremove. Nothing will diflodge them from 
the places they frequent. They are cunning 
timid, difficult to be deceived ; they eafily detett 
y : . traps 
