HOUSE-SPARROW. 53 



occurrences have been in southern and eastern counties, though 

 it has occurred so far west as Devon, and has twice appeared in 

 Ireland and once in Scotland, near Edinburgh ; but the most 

 extraordinary occurrence was in 1914 when a female was taken 

 on spring migration at Fair Island and identified by Mr. Eagle 

 Clarke. 



The Serin is related to the Canary and is not infrequently 

 caged, but it is impossible to believe that these birds were 

 escapes from captivity, though this is probably the case with all 

 the true Wild Canaries, sedentary birds, which have been 

 reported from time to time. 



The Serin is a decidedly yellowish bird, especially on the 

 throat and breast; the upper parts are olive streaked with 

 brown, and the brown wings and tail are margined with pale 

 yellow ; the flanks are boldly streaked. The female, as shown 

 in the illustration, has the marks on the throat and breast in 

 more continuous stripes than the male, and she is browner above 

 and paler beneath. Length, 4-5 ins. Wing, 2-8 ins. Tarsus, 

 •6 in. 



House-Sparrow. Passer domesiicus (Linn.). 



Wherever man builds in our islands the House-Sparrow 

 (Plate 23) sooner or later comes to share his abode. Though 

 described as tame and semi-domestic, neither is strictly true ; 

 man, in the Sparrow's eye, provides food and home, but though 

 impudently annexing his property, it remains suspicious and 

 resents familiarity. An abundant resident, the bird is not 

 universally common ; in many hilly districts it is scarce, and so 

 far has failed to colonise some of the Outer Hebrides. In cities, 

 towns and villages, even round isolated farms, it is the most 

 abundant bird. Our Sparrow occurs in most of Europe and 

 Asia, though replaced by allied forms in some areas ; it has 

 also followed man, intentionally or accidentally introduced, to 



