528 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



as one, with m\ieh toil, has dragged a worm from its place of concealment, 

 down swoops the bird and impudently carries it oil'. The poor l)ewildered 

 and plundered Eobiu essays a late and vain attempt to protect its food. 

 Tlie Sparrow is too nimble, and the worm is gone liefore its rightful owner 

 can turn to face the robber. 



The Sparrows endure the severest of the winter weather without any 

 apparent inconvenience, appearing as cheerful, contented, and noisy with the 

 thermometer at zero as at any other time. They are quite fearless, especially 

 in New York, running about under the feet of the passers-by with perfect 

 indifference and confidence. In Boston I have noticed their nests in con- 

 venient places, a few feet above crowded sidew^alks. Tu winter they come 

 regularly about the houses to be fed. 



The House Sparrow has also been introduced into Australia, where it has 

 become acclimated, and was, at the last accounts, rapidly increasing in that 

 quarter. It is likewise very common aliout Havana, Cuba. 



In the Old World tliis bird has a widely extended area of distriliution, and 

 is resident wherever found. It is very abundant in the British Islands and 

 throughout the northern and central portions of Europe. In Spain and in 

 Italy it is replaced by two closely allied .species or races. This biril, how- 

 ever, is also found in North Africa, in the Levant, at Trebizonde, and among 

 the mountains of Nubia. Specimens have also been received from the Him- 

 alayas, i'rom Nepaul, and the vicinity of Calcutta. 



Both in Euroj)e and in this country the Sparrows jiair early in the season. 

 I have known them sitting on their eggs, in Boston, in March. They are 

 very prolific, have broods of five, six, and even seven at a time, three or four 

 times in a season. They are full of life and animation, somewhat disposed 

 to brief and noisy cpiarrels, whicli are always harmless. 



Their great attachment and devotion to their young is dwelt upon by all 

 English writers as quite remarkable. They evince a great partiality for 

 warmth, and even in midsummer line their ne.sts with all the feathers they 

 can pick up. In New York it is a favorite amusement with the children to 

 carry with them to the public parks (piantities of feathers, which they throw, 

 one by one, to the Sparrows, to witness their amusing contests for possession. 



The eggs of this bird are oval in shape, pointed at one end, with a ground 

 of a light ashen color, blotched, dotted, and streaked with various shades of 

 ashy and dusky brown. They measure from .85 to .95 of an inch in length, 

 and from .60 to .65 in breadth. 



Subfamily SPIZELLINiE. — The Sparrows. 



Char. Bill variiiblo, usually almost straight ; sometimes curved. Commissure gener- 

 ally nearly straight, or slightly concave. Upper mandible wider than lower. Nostrils 

 exposed. Wings moderate; the outer primaries not much rounded. Tail variable. 

 Feet large ; tarsi mostly longer than the middle toe. 



