HOUSE-SPARROW 171 



the only birds I could see in the trees from whence the 

 sounds proceeded. From the attitude of the bird in 

 question, and his whole gesture, I aiu inclined to think 

 the sounds must have been used as a sort of love-note. 

 But then the question arises, if it be so, why do we not 

 hear it more frequently ? And this, I confess, I am 

 unable to answer." — J. Pemberton Bartlett, Kingston 

 Eectory, December 4, 1843 {Zoologist, 1844, p. 453). 



House-Sparrow. — " Probably it may have been observed, 

 but I am not aware that I have seen it remarked on, 

 the somewhat peculiar habit the House-Sparrow has, 

 not only of resorting to and occupying its old nest, but 

 of repairing and relining it for the winter, when the 

 leafless trees no longer afford it a secure or snug place 

 of roosting ; I say somewhat peculiar, because I am 

 aware that it is recorded of the Wren, that it retires at 

 night and in severe weather to its old nest. I find it 

 inserted in my note-book : ' Ventnor, October 13, 1854. 

 Saw a House-Sparrow carrying feathers into its nest 

 under the eaves.' Again, ' Tunbridge, November 1, 

 1856 : Observed this morning a House-Sparrow carrying 

 feathers into the ivy on the ruined castle in this town. 

 In the afternoon saw another Sparrow, with its bill 

 crammed full of dry grass, fly on to the cottage and 

 disappear among the creepers.' " — H. AV. Hadfield, 

 Tunbridge, November, 1856 {Zoologist, 1857, p. 5363). 



Notes on the House-Sparrow {Friugilla domestica). — 

 " March 31, 1857 : Rather more than a week since a 

 pair of House-Sparrows commenced building in one of 

 the small elm trees in front of the house ; the site selected 

 for the nest is a forked branch near the top, and the 

 work seemed to be progressing till a sudden change in 

 the weather not only put a stop to it, but the drenching 



