http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a900622a.html
I’m new to this malarky, so forgive me for commenting on a very old column.
Cecil was a bit worried as to what a “spuggy” might be (as in “All in, all in, spuggy in the tin”).
Don’t be afraid: it’s nothing rude. It is simply a word used mainly in the north-east of England, mainly in Teesside, for a sparrow.
Hey! Welcome to the Boards. Here’s an older thread discussing this column: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=1974&highlight=ollie. The “spuggy” issue is discussed there too.
By the way, since you’re a guest and can’t do searches yet, you can request that a registered member perform a search for you in this thread: Unofficial Search Request Thread. There’s a wealth of information in the SDMB archives, and many of Cecil’s columns have been discussed previously.
Stick around! $15 ain’t too much. 