294 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



cinnamon. They measure: .63x49, .54x49, .53x48, respectively. 

 Another set in the same cabinet, contains four eggs. The ground color 

 is similar to the set of three, but the spots are larger and darker. They 

 were taken in Maine. 



* * Carduelis carduelis (LINN.) 



Goldfinch. 



Hab. Europe and Western Asia; introduced and naturalized in portions of Eastern United States. 



The European Goldfinch has been introduced and successfully 

 naturalized in various portions of Eastern United States, as in New 

 York, Hoboken, New Jersey, and in the vicinity of Cambridge, Massa- 

 chusetts, etc. In Central Park, New York city, it is considered a 

 common resident. 



April 20, 1886, Mr. E. T. Adney discovered two nests in Central 

 Park, one of which contained five fresh eggs. The nests were placed 

 in pine trees, among the tufts of long pine needles, near the end of a 

 slender horizontal limb, about twelve feet from the ground. The nest 

 of the European Goldfinch is a handsome, compact, cup-shaped struc- 

 ture, made of fine, soft grasses, vegetable fibres and mosses. It is 

 thick-walled and substantial, often built in bushes and various kinds of 

 trees. The eggs are four to six in number of greenish-white, or light 

 greenish-blue, dotted with reddish-brown around the larger end. Their 

 average size is .72 x .50. 



* * Passer domesticus (LINN.) 



European House Sparrow. 



Hab. Europe, etc. ; introduced into the United States with regrets. 



The "rats of the air" were imported into this country about six- 

 teen years ago for the purpose of ridding our trees and shrubbery of 

 insect-pests. The species has proved a failure as an insectiverous gor- 

 mandizer, and by its force of numbers has compelled some of our native 

 and fondly-cherished birds, such as the Bluebird and Martin, to retreat 

 to their primitive abodes for nesting places the cavities in forest 

 trees and even there, they will doubtless, ere long, have to face this 

 sturdy foe. 



The habits, nests and eggs of the House Sparrow are too well 

 known to require description. It is called English Sparrow, The 

 Sparrow, Philip Sparrow, Parasite, Tramp, Hoodlum, Gamin. 



* * Passer montanus (LINN.) 



European Tree Sparrow. 



Hab. Europe; naturalized about St. Louis and elsewhere. 



This species looks very much like the European House Sparrow, 

 and it nests similar in holes of trees, nooks and corners ef isolated 

 buildings, etc. The eggs are four to six in number, similar to those of 



