The details he gave--his
methods of entrapping the birds, his study of their habits, his
evident belief that the city pigeon, however well provided for by
parties who fondly believed the bird to be their own, was really
ferae naturae, and consequently "game" for the pigeon-catcher--were
all so interesting that I listened to him with undisguised delight.
When he had finished, however, he said, "And now, sir, being a poor
man, with a large family, and work bein' rather slack this year, if
ye could oblige me with the loan of a dollar and your address,
until remittances what I'm expecting come in from Chicago, you'll
be doin' me a great service," etc., etc. He got the dollar, of
course (his information was worth twice the money), but I imagine
he lost my address. Yet it is only fair to say that some days
after, relating his experience to a prominent sporting man, he
corroborated all its details, and satisfied me that my pigeon-
catching friend, although unfortunate, was not an impostor.
And this leads me to speak of the birds. Of all early risers, my
most importunate, aggressive, and obtrusive companions are the
English sparrows.
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