178 THE HOUSE-SPARROW. 
At home, abroad, wherever seen or heard 
Still is the Sparrow just the self-same bird; 
Thievish and clamorous, hardy, bold and base, 
Unlike all others of the feathered race. 
The bully of his tribe—to all beyond 
The gipsey, beggar, knave, and vagabond! 
Ir may be thought that I have here dealt hard 
measure to the Sparrow, but the character I have 
given of him will be recognised by those who 
know him, as true. Cowper calls them, a thievish 
race, that scared as often as you please, 
As oft return, a pert, voracious kind ; 
and that every farmer knows them to be. What 
multitudes do you see dropping down upon, or 
rising from the wheat as it is ripening in the 
fields. Formerly a price was set upon their heads, 
and eggs by country parishes. In many places 
a penny was given for a Sparrow’s head, and the 
same for three or four eggs; but this is now done 
away with, and the farmer must destroy them 
himself, or pay dearly for it in his corn. 
Nothing can exceed the self-complacence of 
