8 



Olservations. The fully aJiilt males shot in England in April, liave assumed the dark 

 chestnut back, and deep slaty grey of the crown ; the black is more extended on the 

 breast ; the underparts conspicuously pale slaty grey ; and the bill black. 



In winter the black of the chin and throat in the male are slightly margined with 

 white ; crown brownish ; margins to feathers of back broader and richer chestnut ; under- 

 parts paler ; bill brown, base yellowish. 



In some young males, the margins of the median coverts, are rich rufous brown. 



The female from the U. S. America exhibits more of the shaft stripes on the throat 

 and breast, than in the English birds ; the ear-coverts of the male are darker grey. 



The type of Sir W. Jardines P. indious in my collection is a young male, just 

 assuming the breeding plumage of early spring. 



The Indian form is readily distinguished by its pure white cheeks and sides of neck, 

 and paler underparts. 



Of all the birds perhaps none lias been so persecuted as the common House 

 Sparrow, and no wonder ; I well remember when a boy while living close 

 to the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, (to which I had daily access), associating 

 with the workmen, who had to attend to all the roof and rain-water pipes of 

 that building, I was in my glory watching the continuous and everlasting 

 labour of clearing out basketsful of straw, hay, rags, feathers, tow, cottons, 

 leaves, twigs and other refuse, carried there for the nests of two indefatigable 

 birds. Sparrows and Starlings' eggs in any number came from every nook 

 and corner, this accumulation of rubbish gave great trouble, stopping up 

 and causing an over-flow of water and decay of iron pipes, which had to 

 be replaced and many strengthened to support the building. Well may 

 the farmers and owners of property condemn and place a high price on 

 the head of a sparrow, which he well deserves, not only for the quantity 

 of food he consumes, but the destruction on all sides, by his too sociable 

 habits. 



When reading Mr. J. H. Gurne/s continental notes of this bird in 

 Metz, — "The cottagers" he says, " put up pots of earthenware against 

 the walls of their houses for the sparrows to nest in, not by way of 

 encouraging them (as the English encourage Martins), but to make them 

 into a pie when the young ones get big enough," — reminded me that when 



