AVES. 67 



117. Passci' doiucsticus. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 323.) House 

 Sparrow. Heb. 115V {generic). Arab. j.^ao.!:^, 'Asfiir {generic). 



The Sparrow of the Syrian cities is our own domestic species, and as 

 abundant and bold there as here. It is found also in flocks in the 

 southern wilderness of Beersheba in winter. 



Assuming the Indian Sparrow to be identical with our own, though 

 always a smaller and brighter bird, the Sparrow covers nearly the whole 

 of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. But it is not found further east than 

 Siam, being absent in China, East Siberia, and Japan. I have recently 

 received it from the Albert Nyanza, Central Africa, agreeing exactly with 

 Indian examples. 



118. Passer italics. Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xii., p. 199. Italian 

 Sparrow. 



In some of the interior districts the Sjjarrows have the chestnut 

 head of this species, and cannot possibly be separated from it. It 

 has been generally stated that this bird is peculiar to the Peninsula, and 

 that in all cases beyond its limits the Passer hispaniolensis has been mis- 

 taken for it. But as a matter of fact, both in North Africa and Syria, 

 Passer italicc does occur, without a vestige of the longitudinal strice 

 which mark the flanks of the other species. Moreover, the two differ 

 widely in their habits, and no one familiar with them in life can mistake 

 the two. 



119. Passer hispaniolensis. (Temm. Man. d'Orn. i., p. 353.) Marsh 

 Sparrow. 



The Marsh Sparrow is chiefly confined to the Jordan valley, where it 

 congregates at all times of the year in countless myriads, breeding in 

 colonies so crowded that I have seen a jujube-tree broken down simply 

 by the weight of their nests, while their noise is so deafening that it is 

 impossible to carry on conversation in their rookeries. The Arab boys 

 would bring in their eggs by the bushel. This bird feeds largely on the 

 leaves of leguminous plants. In other parts of the country it is found, 

 but not in such numbers, and never in the towns. 



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