PA SSE RES. FRING1LL1DÆ.
P a s s e r montanus (Linnaeus*).
THE TREE-SPARROW.
Passer montanus.
Passer, Brisson f .—Bill hard, strong, somewhat conical hut bulging above
and below, longer than deep; upper mandible larger than the lower, edges
nearly plain. Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, almost hidden by projecting and
recurved frontal plumes. Gape straight. Wings with the first primary small
and attenuated, but distinctly developed, the third or fourth rather the longest,
but the second, third and fourth, sometimes even the fifth, are not very unequal.
Tail moderate or short, and nearly square. Tarsus stout, nearly as long as the
middle toe, scutellate in front, covered at the sides by a single plate. Claws
moderately curved, rather short.
T h e numerous species of Sparrows J, some of which are
found in almost every part of the Old World, excepting
Australasia, are well entitled to generic distinction, but their
precise affinity to other groups of Finches is not so clear.
Certain systematists indeed would remove them from the
* Fringilla mon tan a, Linnseus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 324.
f Orn. iii. p. 71 (1760).
-^e w°rd being here used in its technical and limited sense.
Fringillidce and place them among the Weaver-birds, which
by many naturalists are regarded as forming a distinct
family—Ploceidce. The question whether this view he correct
needs not discussion here, but even if it be the inclusion of
the Sparrows among the Weaver-birds is an extremely
doubtful step, and in this work it seems at present advisable
to retain our two species in the position they have long
occupied, though their place between the genera Fringilla and
Coccothraustes is obviously faulty. The Tree-Sparrow is an
active, lively bird, in appearance and some of its peculiarities,
very similar to the well-known House-Sparrow, for which it
may, by the careless, be readily mistaken, though it can
always be distinguished by its reddish-brown crown, the
black patch on the sides of its neck, and its doubly-barred
wings*. Its note also, once recognized, can never fail to
ensure its discovery, and there is further this remarkable and
important distinction between the two species, namely that
in the common or House-Sparrow the old cock differs greatly
in plumage from the hen, whereas in the Tree-Sparrow both
sexes are very nearly alike. In Britain it is far less
numerous as a species than its congener, and though
occurring throughout most parts of England, as will presently
be stated at greater length, it forms with us comparatively
small settlements instead of being generally distributed.
No plausible reason can be as yet assigned for its being
limited to such stations, but the fact is undoubted. While
certainly with us generally preferring trees growing in the
open country to woods or the neighbourhood of man, and
never in Britain inhabiting towns, it sometimes affects
buildings, as appears by a communication from the Messrs.
Dimock, of Uppingham, who observed it frequently building
in the thatch of a barn, in company with the House-Sparrow,
entering it by holes in the outside. This statement is confirmed
by Hoy’s experience on the continent, where he often
found the Tree-Sparrow breeding in tiled roofs, as well as in
stacks of faggots, and is further corroborated by Mr. Hewit-
* Unfortunately this last peculiarity has not been sufficiently shewn by the
draughtsman in the woodcut at the head of this article.