WHEN, a few years ago, word came that British bird lovers anxious about the decline of the house sparrow had appointed a sparrow tsar, it seemed that the tsar vogue must have reached its zenith.

• 几年前，当传闻英国爱鸟者们忧心忡忡于家雀的灭绝而指定了一名“麻雀沙皇”时，似乎“沙皇热”已经达到了顶峰。