169 



Zbc HbP55inian (BolDeu Sparrow* 



{Passer luieus.) 

 By W. r. PVCRAFT, A.L.vS., F.Z.S., &c. 



T will probably come as a surprise to many 



of our readers to know that there are 



no less than twenty-six distinct species 



^^^ of Sparrows ! And their surprise would 



^^l-^ l certainly not be lessened when a survey 



of these species was made, for they would find that by 

 a series of really wonderful gradations (or shall we say 

 phases ?) the coloration and pattern of the plumage 

 passes, as we trace the members of the genus Passer 

 from one quarter of the globe to another, into types 

 that seem hardly to be connected with the Sparrow 

 plumage such as we know it. 



The Abyssinian Golden Sparrow, Passer hiieiis, 

 the subject of our illustration ; and the closely allied 

 Arabian Golden Sparrow, Passer euchlonis, are instances 

 of the extremes of coloration to which I refer. 



The pressure on my time just now prevents my 

 giving, as I should like to give, a survey of the links 

 in this chain of differences. Perchance later some 

 member of the Club may be induced to follow up this 

 matter on the lines I have suggested. 



The Abyssinian Golden Sparrow is not confined 

 to Abyssinia as its name seems to imph'. Henglin 

 found it in early summer in large flocks along the Blue 



