22 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Zvcc Sparrow. 



The Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus^ Linnseus) is a generally 

 distributed, but local, species in the British Isles. It is also 

 found throughout most parts of the Palearctic Region, and 

 in the Indian Region, reaching as far southwards as Java. 

 The adult male in breeding plumage has the crown and nape 

 chocolate-brown ; throat and fore-neck, black ; lores, and a 

 streak behind eyes, black; ear-coverts, ashy-white, with a 

 black patch on the lower parts ; sides of neck, white ; upper 

 parts and tail closely resemble the house sparrow, with the 

 exception that the median and greater wing-coverts have 

 white tips, which form two bars ; under parts, ashy ; bill, 

 black ; legs, pale brown ; irides, brown. Length, about 

 five inches. The adult female is similar to the male in 

 colouration. 



