West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-01
THE HOUSE SPARROW.
Domestic Life of the Feathered Auto
Gratis of the streets aud Alleys.

domestic Life OF the Feathered Auto
Gratis of the streets aud Alleys.
The sparrow is an autocrat. es
pecially addicted to divorcing his part.
ner upon the smallest pretext. | have
chronicled two small dramas in spar
row life which | watched from be-
ginning to end. The actors in the first
were pair living in hole in a maple
tree before my window. For some un g.
discoverable reason the gracelesss head
OF the household decided to make n
change i'm his domestic ARRANGEMENTS
aud to begin by divorce In that case
the female had the advantage, since the
home was not an open nest, but n
ca tie She had possession, and kept
1t for two days, in spite of violent
Vltupcratlon and the most threatening
manner. In this case. also, observed
that she never talked back" in
dulged in unseemly scolding, or as
sumed the offensive in any way. She
appeared indifferent to his opinions.
but enough attached to her home TO en-
dure his annoyances for two DAYS be-
fore she tired of the controversy.
When at last she accepted her fate and
departed, L saw him bring home the
pride, as coquettish young thing rs
can be imagined, coax her by many
wles TO examine the snug house, fol
low her about and finally induce her to
take up her residence with him.
The other case was of trouble on the
other side. A cock sparrow lost one
leg, and his mate, who had nestlngs TO
feed, attempted to divorce him. Sew
eral birds appeared upon the scene. evi.
IDENTIFY aspirantS for the soon-to-be.
vacant place. But the little fellow.
though evidently suffering so greatly
that several times he appeared to be
dying, never failed to revive and attack
with fury every pretender, and after a
day or two of this conflict was able to
resume his duties as assistant pro-
wider for the little ones. when his spouse
amiably kissed and made up" All
through the trouble she never DISPLAYED
temper She refused him admission
into the honeysuckle vine. where the
nest was; but she would come out and
allght near him on the window-sill.
talk to him calmly. reproach him, evil
IDENTITY, reminding him of the babies to
feed, and he not able 20 help. TO these
remarks he made little reply
As | said. the sparrow is a domestic
tyrant' 0rooking no opposition. ! have
never observed a case in which the hen
had her own way He is so great a
bully. so self-willed and violent. that.
whatever the cause of disagreement, he
holds out with logged obstinacy till he
gets his will. In one case there WAS
difference OF opinion as TO the site for "A
nest; he wishing to occupy an empty
| cottage OF mans providing. while she.
with finer instinct, had decided upon "A
| charming crotch in an evergreen tree.
AT first she opposed him strongly, scat
tering the material he brought, throw
ing the choicest bits TO the winds. while
he stormed and scolded and brought
more. In the intervals between thwart-
ing his plans, she would accumulate
materials in the chosen tree He scorned
to touch them; he simply ignored her
designs, and proceeded with obstinacv
almost sublime to bring, and bring, and
bring. till she was worn out. gave up,
and accepted the cottage at last. - Oiirc
1horHe hit'er, M AfidHtic Monthiy