The little creatures know _me_, but so many gentlemen would terrify them." Sabine then went out a few steps, scattered the crumbs on the gravel, and clapped her hands.

A loud chirping instantly succeeded, and numbers of birds shot down, hopping boldly about, and picking up the crumbs close to her feet.

They were not a very distinguished company--finches, linnets, and a whole nation of sparrows.

Sabine gently stepped back to the door, and said, "Can you see any difference among these sparrows?
They have, I assure you, individualities of dress and character.

Several of them are personal acquaintances of mine." She pointed to a large sparrow with a black head and a bright brown back.