38 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



the hole of a tree, but it is surely a mistake to say that 

 they build in the thatch of barns and out- houses, as 

 Morris affirms they do; but, failing suitable trees with 

 convenient cavities, they may, and sometimes do, nest 

 in a hedge or bush. Length, 5| inches ; female, a little 

 less. 



It is curious that the female should almost exactly 

 resemble the male in plumage, seeing that the common 

 sparrows differ so immensely in outward appearance. 



The eggs of this species are usually five in number, 

 of a dull white, specked with brown of several shades. 

 There are two broods in the season, and the young have 

 no black on the throat or face until after their first 

 moult. 



The tree sparrow is not a common bird anywhere, 

 and in many parts of the British Islands it is quite 

 unknown. It is more susceptible of domestication than 

 the last, and readily learns to come and go if brought 

 up b}' hand on the nest, wiiicli it is not difficult to do 

 on ants' eggs and bread and milk. There are several 

 instances on record where the tree sparrow has nested 

 successfully in an aviary ; but it does not appear ever 

 to have cross-paired with the ordinary house sparrow, 

 notwithstandint; tiie stron^r resemblance that exists between 

 the two species. 



Hawfinx'II. — The forehead is yellowish brown, which 

 unites with the light chestnut on the top of the 

 head au'l cheeks ; the circle of the head is black, and 

 forms, under the chin, a large square spot ; the nape 

 of the neck and upper part of the back arc of a fine 

 ash grey ; the lower part is of a dark brown, with some 

 shades of gre}'- on the back. In the female, the cheeks, 

 head, and upper tail coverts are of a greyish chestnut 

 colour: the throat, wings, and tail rather brown than 



