BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 143 



Bull. Cal. Ac. Sci., no. 6, 1887, 293 (habits; descr. nest and eggs).— Sharpe, 

 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xii, 1888, 424.— Townsexd, Proc. U. S.Nat. Mu.s., xiii, 

 1890, 138. 

 C.Jiarpodacus'] amplus Ridgway, Man. N. Am. Birds, 1887, 391. 



Genus PASSER Brisson. 



Passer Brissox, Orn., ii, 1760, 71. (Type, Fringilla domestica Linnaeus.) 

 Pyrglta Cuvier, Regne Animal, i, 1817, 385. (Type, Fringilla domestica Linna?us. ) 

 Salicipasser Bogdanow, Orn. Caucas. , 1879, 60. (Type, Fringilla montona Linnasus. ) 



Rather small, essentially arboreal finches, with gonys more or less 

 convex, the wing not more than four times as long as tarsus, the 

 plumage without red or j^ellow and without streaks on under parts. 



Bill rather shorter than head, rather stout, deeper than broad at 

 base, its length from nostril to tip of maxilla about equal to or a little 

 shorter than inner toe (without claw); gonys about equal to or a little 

 longer than hallux, faintly convex; tomia distinctly inflexed. Nasal 

 plumules rather small, barely covering the nostriis. Wing about four 

 times as long as tarsus, pointed (ninth, eighth, and seventh primaries 

 longest and nearlv equal); primaries exceeding secondaries b}- about 

 the length of the tarsus. Tail about three-fourths as long as wing, or 

 a little more, about half hidden by the upper coverts, the rectrices not 

 pointed at tips. Tarsus short (shorter than middle toe with claw), 

 rather stout; lateral claws reaching nearl}" or quite to base of middle 

 claw; hallux about equal to the inner toe, its claw shorter than the 

 digit. 



Colors. — Back conspicuoush" streaked with black on a brownish 

 or rufescent ground; wings with one or two white bars; adult male 

 at least (both sexes in some species) with throat black; no streaks on 

 under parts. 



KEY TO THE AMERICAN (INTRODUCED) SPECIES OF PASSER. 



a. Larger (wing more than 71.12, averaging 75.69) ; pileum grayish, ijostocu^ar region 

 chestnut in adult male; sexes very different in coloration. 



Passer domesticus (p. 143. ) 

 aa. Smaller (wing less than 71.12, averaging 69.34); pileum and postocular region 

 vinaceous-brown; sexes alike, and young not very different from adults. 



Passer montanus (p. 145.) 



PASSER DOMESTICUS (Linnaeus). 

 HOTJSE SPARROW. 



Adult inale. — Pileum deep gray or olive-graj", bordered laterally by 

 a broad postocular patch of chestnut extending to sides of neck; lores, 

 chin, throat, and chest black; a small white spot above posterior angle 

 of the eye; back and scapulars rusty brown streaked with black; lesser 

 wing-coverts chestnut; middle coverts blackish, tipped with white, 



