1 . H O U S E I f l l l S l .
Pyrgita. domestica.; f Gwv:)
2jTREE SPARROW.
. Pyrgita montana; fCwr:) -
| * -
Genus PYRGITA, Cuv.
la»*, L e a k . BUI strong, conical, longer than d eep; upper inaudible slightly curved; tij
emarg-inal.e; cninien slightly raised; lower mandible compressed a n d smaller than tin
upper. N o s tr ils lateral, immediately behind the bulging base o f die u p p e r mandible
round, and nearly &mcealed b y small plumes: Wings: the second quiil-featber ratherth
longest. Tarsi nearly as long as the middle toe. Tires three before and one In hind, i lux
i» front d iv id ed : claws sharp and curved, that o f the hind toe r a th e r .Jpger than th at o
¡g the middle. T a il square or v e r y slightly forked.
C 0 M MO N SPARROW.
P y i'g ita domestica, Cuv.
L e Gro!ji-b<!<i
Ov die four species o f this group indigenous to Europe, 00 ««re i* mote extensively snhatii -v attwvir •
known than the Common Sparrow, a bird with which we an? all so well acquainted th a t%, « 2 1 ■ • A
tails of 'ts history seems almost superfluous. We are hiiWraett that in Italy and Spain its- supj»M Intwo
species peculiar to those countries, viz. Pyrg, Ckdph--•> m d J^imiKmkmrs, cwi^vRh
it is undoubtedly spread over t in: whole of Central Europe ;( ore---.-....... >........ i .M . v 'h iih
districts o f India. In Roglaml it is stationai-y throughout the year, CXWKreSPUittg m liock-s ir, 1 1 - „ j
wiii'ei:, but in .OT8W dwelling and breeding either in small companies or in, pair- Acroimnodatiri-r 1' h
to aU situations, it; breeds indifferently among the branches or in the holes of trees and under the eaves
houses, not unfrequentlj usurping the nest of the Common Martin (ftmiuda ur« ra ) ; but never far from the
habitation of man, to whose presence i t appears perfectly indifferent, hence we see it as abundant in die
h r S r $ $ " ' " the sma,,est villages. The nest when placed in a tree is of a domed firm, carelessly
.ccristrncfed o f sftraw, grass, and any materials at hand, hut always lined with feathers : the eggs are live or
six in number; of a greyish white spotted with brown. The food of the Common Sparrow consists, during «
great part of the year, principally of eeede-ud grain of diflcrent kinds, which in.summer are in a great measure
exchanged for insects and their htrvie, with which -it invariably feeds its young. This bird is destroyed;
in vast numbers in many agricultural districts, on account of the supposed injury it inflicts upon the limner
by the destruction o f his co rn ; but we much question whether this pra- ticr can be fiiirly hiacifietl for , enn-
ceive that the injury it may Inflict is more than eounSedislanced b y th e benefit accruing from tbeihamc it
commits among the insect tribes, which are in fact the-real enemies o f the farmer, the frnitorower, and
' cultivator of the land; and we ourselves incline to think that it.would be bet: r to pfoteet the grain r t
even to sacrifice some portion of it, than utterly to exterminate a creature which has, no doubt, been wtefv
appointed to fill its place in the great scheme of creation.
The male Sparrow | renlly n | j j j i l bird when seen undisguised by the smoke and dirt-wini.1. # .fc
its plumage in our larger towns and cities : the crown of the head ■ bluish grev, hot b ,.f,iji. ■
from the eye rich cheslinit; ch ecb and si ! ■; ,,f .iw it. i l; .¡ bu,. . ,, , ,
faceTich brown dashed with Mack ; a white bur sen»» slw idumldcri; tuuicr «,rf.v ;rt-vtw!r whit, let»)
hilt block in summer and brown in winter.
. The female has the wijier surface dull hn-ow»; H*i: *!,u /i- • .* v .ia ;- ¿-j ^ . it
brown at all seasons.
T R EK S P A R R OW.
1 yrgita montana, Ouv.
Ia Gros-beki Friquet.
UNiHtB tbe preceding species, which lo rn to dwell in the streets of our toivim this affects ibu'w
whew i'rery field and wood affords if fciod and a oodgenial habitat. In the British Island m »,1
local in its range, being scarcely known in some coooues, while in. others, Essex, Cambr. : -
tolcnddy abundant. I t is found in most parts o f centlral and s-nuthera Europe, and . li t, .,v
from the Himalaya mountains and from China. The food consists o f seeds • «-’ni-ik-n, ;•
the other members of this restricted genus it is devoid o f song. The neat is eon&troctod
stunted trees aud pollards, and very elos.cly resentbfes that o f the Common Sparrow, ¡#- 4* s'-
except that, they are smaller. The sexes offer no difference in the cokwring r ; ... :r -
S{khtow may^be distinguished from the make of the common species it-. *?» bcr «■: ^ f
'Rl living the top jof the head rich chestnut brown; a patch: of black pa ♦?(,- • ■. ■.
y? yellowish white across the shoulders.
The Plate represents a male and female o f the Common Spat row, »tMi -zo •