264 BRITISH BIRDS' XESTS. 



eggs ill have been found as early as March 20 and 

 as late as July 28. 



Be))iai-k.s. — liesident, but subject to local migra- 

 tion. Notes : fJicJi-tJiicl-, tjicl^-tjucli, uttered both 

 whilst the bird is perched and between the druni- 

 mings when it is on the wing at dusk and on dull 

 days. Local and other names : Hammer Blate, 

 Whole Snipe, Heather Bleater. Sits closely, and 

 simulates lameness when flushed, in order to draw 

 the intruder away from its eggs. 



SPARROW, COMMON. Aho Spaeeow, House. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length nearly six 

 inches. Bill short, thick at the base, strong, and 

 dusky. Irides hazel. Crown and nape ash-grey ; 

 back, scapulars, and wing-coverts reddish-brown, 

 mixed with black, the last-named feathers being- 

 tipped with white, which forms a bar across the 

 wing. Wing-quills dusk}^, edged with reddish-brown ; 

 tail dusky brown, bordered with grey. Cheeks 

 whitish ; chin and throat black ; belly and vent 

 light ash-grey. Legs and toes brown ; claws black. 



The female is not quite so large as the male ; 

 the plumage on her upper-parts is not so bright, 

 and she lacks entirely the black on the chin and 

 throat. Town-dwelling birds have their plumage 

 much dulled by grime and smoke, which even 

 penetrates to the interior of their bones. 



Situation and LocaJitij. — Holes in walls, under 

 tiles and slates, behind signboards fastened against 

 walls, holes in cliifs, the old nests of Sand and 

 House Martins ; in the thatch of houses, barns, and 

 ricks, holes in hollow trees ; amongst ivy trained 

 against houses ; the rafters of stables and sheds ; 



