SPARROW.
ADERYN Y Ti GOLFAN, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH.
HOUSE SPARROW. COMMON SPARROW.
Passer dornest kus,
Fringilla dornest'ica,
Pyrgita domestka,
SELBY.
PENNANT. MONTAGU.
FLEMING.
Passer—A Sparrow. Domesticus—Domestic—of, or pertaining Lo houses.
THE geographical range of this well-known bird is very extensive.
It is common throughout Europe, from Denmark, Norway, Sweden,
and Dahnatia, to Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Levant, Lignria, and all
the islands of the Mediterranean; in the north of Africa and the
range of the Nubian Mountains; in Asia also, in the Himalayan
district, and in various other parts.
Everywhere he is the same, at least under the same circumstances,
except indeed in appearance; for, ' unlike, O how unlike,' is the
smoke-begrimed Sparrow of the town, to the handsomely-plumaged
bird of the country! Everywhere he makes himself at home, and
*ffiquo pulsat pede pauperumque tabernas, regrrmque turres.' The
'cloud-clapt towers' and the 'Poor Law Union,' the 'lowly thatched
cottage' and the splendid Gothic mansion, nay, the very palace of
the Queen of England herself, one and all bear testimony to the
universality of the dispersion of the Sparrow, and the self-accommodating
nature of his domiciliary visitations.
In this country it is everywhere, or nearly everywhere to be seen
in greater or less abundance. In the neighbourhood of Doncaster it
comes under the latter category, for some years ago I recorded in the
'Naturalist,' old series, volume ii., page 166, my observation, corroborated
on his noticing it by the editor, that there they are, I mean,
that they were at that time, far from common birds.
VOL. ii. 2 a