52 Mr . C . A . Wright's List of the Birds 



and which, according to some, constitutes them distinct species, 

 is the presence in P. salicicola of lateral black streaks, which 

 are absent in P. italicus. In Malta there are both these varieties ; 

 that with streaks, however, is by far the most common, the other 

 being rarely met with. But in a collection of forty or fifty spe- 

 cimens I have found intermediate birds having the streaks more 

 or less visible, so that a series may be formed with gradations so 

 imperceptible that it is quite impossible to draw the line of de- 

 marcation. In other respects I can discover no important points 

 of difference, except perhaps in depth of colour, — that with the 

 striae most distinctly marked being a somewhat more handsome- 

 looking bird. These remarks apply only to the males ; in the 

 females I can find no difference whatever. Both kinds breed 

 and associate in the same localities, and in habits are precisely 

 the same, constructing their nests in holes in the house both in 

 town and country, in the walls of the fortifications, and in the 

 rocks on the coast. Now, should these Sparrows be considered 

 two distinct species that interbreed and produce a hybrid pro- 

 geny, or one species subject to variation in the matter of streaks ? 

 I think, for all purposes of science they should be considered as 

 one. 



A large collection of skins of birds obtained by Dr. Leith 

 Adams and myself at different seasons, and from different parts 

 of Malta and Gozo, showing these gradations, was submitted to 

 Sir William Jardine. After carefully comparing them with nu- 

 merous specimens from various parts of the world, Sir William 

 has kindly given his opinion thereon, which entirely confirms the 

 ideas I had formed on the subject. 



Sir William Jardine writes — "All the Sparrows sent to me 

 from Malta are Pyrgita italica (Vieill.) 1817, and=:P. salicaria 

 sive hispaniolensis." 



I may here mention that, after the breeding-season, the bright 

 chestnut-colour of the head of the Maltese Sparrow becomes 

 sprinkled with a greyish or sand-colour, the deep black of the beak 

 changes to horn-colour with a tinge of yellow about the base, much 

 of the black about the throat and flanks disappears, and the whole 

 plumage is duller. 



With reference to the distinctions between this Sparrow 



