The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-08-25


Toward the end of MAY last year
had the rare opportunity of watching
from beginning to end little affair in
| the sparrow family; and | wish to say
in beginning that although | NAV not
have interpreted them correctly the
events took place exactly as | shall tell
them. Nothing is exaggerated, and
| nothing could be palmer, to my eyes,
| than the motions and emotions of the
| little creatures | so closely watched.
| That | was able to follow the small
drama to its end was because of the for.
tunate position of the family. remote
from other sparrow nests and in full
view of the window occupied.
/ The first intimation / had of trouble
was the loud and persistent chirping OF
| sparrow. cry of distress. For some
time | could not get sight of him., but
| just at evening when | was looAng
| closely at a pear tree from which the
| sound came a cock-sparrow flew out
| alighting on the peak of low roof in nv
sight, and resumed at once the very
sound l was in search of. He was the
one in trouble, and the reason was plain
he had lost a leg.
He stayed on the roof some time. ut
of distress, and at last flying to the pear
tree again established himself in an an
| gle formed by two twigs starting hori-
zontally from the same point. Here he
| settled himself comfortably after some
tiuttering and here remained.
The first thing in the morning heard
the sorrowful cry again and fastened to
the window to see how he was this morn
ing and if possible find out where he
lived. He had left the tree and seated
himself on the ledge over n false win
dow plainly visible from my chair. The
sill, the upper ledge and the edge of the
roof overhead were the scene of the
whole drama that followed. From his at
home manner in that spot | concluded
that he lived near, for / have noticed that
sparrows usually have particular place
on which to alight before going into the
nest. They perch moment, look around,
tiirt the tail and then dash into the house.
While watched him hen sparrow
alighted near him, scolding harshly, up
on which he flew away and she follow
ed. He alighted upon the pear tree, she
perched near him and talked to him, not
in the scolding tone that had driven him
away from the ledge, but in remon-
strating or arguing tone. He answered
her in a low conversational chirp, but
when she drew nearer he again took
wing.
This went on at intervals all day. She
did not appear to be angry and trying to
drive him away, nor did she seem to be
sympathetic with his trouble. 1t looked
as if she was urging him to do some |
thing. could not make out what. He
kent almost entirely to the ledge and the |
sill, and now I saw where they lived. 1t |
was in thick clump OF honeysuckle |
vines that ran over a doorway not more |
than three feet from the sill where he |
had taken his position. Once or twice |
on this day he entered the honevsuckies, |
when there ensued a great chattering |
and he soon came out.
1t was pitiful to see the poor little |
creature and hear his loud cry all day. |
He lay fiat on his breast, often his head |
dropped and thought he was dying. |
Every little while the hen would come |
to visit him, alighting near him, some
times quietly talking, sometimes scold- |
ing, on which he would fly away. To- /
day also l saw that the hen carried food |
into the honeysuckles, and concluded /
she had babies to feed, and perhaps her
with him had been that
he did not help. Evidently she had
good deal ON her hands, hungry babies
and disabled spouse.
He was very awkward on his one leg,
could not stand up moment and when
he moved used his wings violently. Sew
aral times he fell off the window sill. but
caught himself by means of his wings
and flew back. Much of the time he lay
with his bill open and seemed so weak
thought he could not live another day.
But the next morning new emotion
came to brace him up, including him to
10 what Mrs. Dombey failed make an
Effort
Madam evidently made up her mind
% shake of a useless partner, and early
n the day rival appeared on the scene.
The cock who assumed this despicable
ole was a tumbled up sort of fellow.
Who looked as though he needed wife
o keep his coat in order, and had my
doubts whether that little hen had made
wise choice He would alight on the
ill. One-leg being on the ledge above.
Here he would plant himself in dog
red way, in crouching attitude, and
.all, though not with the least spirit.
lis feathers were ruffied, not bristled
Up in anger or in fighting hnmor; and !
a fact / could not resist athe conviction
hat he was hen-picked coward order
d to go out and fight. and dutifuily,
nut not heartily. obeying. IL
n he lad <pa