Nile, in Kordofan, and Southern Nubia. In June and 

 July he found it in large numbers in Khartoum, where, 

 in September and October, the}' resorted to the open 

 country in thousands with their young. 



On the White Nile, Mr. Witherby found this bird 

 to be quite common. When flying it has, he says, a 

 lyinnet-like note, but when perching chirps like a 

 House Sparrow. 



The nest of this bird is of an oval form, deeper 

 than wide, composed of dried grass, and placed in the 

 bough of a tree from two to twelve feet from the 

 ground. From three to four eggs are laid, which 

 closely resemble those of our Common House 

 Sparrow. 



The Golden Sparrow seems to have a great fond- 

 ness for the water. The Hon. N. C. Rothschild tells 

 us that enormous flocks were seen by him at Shendi, 

 bathing in the shallow pools of the river. 



As I have kept Passer liiteus in my bird-room, I venture to 

 supplement Mr. Pycraft's article by a few notes on the species 

 purely from the aviarist's standpoint. 



I possessed examples of both male and female, for some 

 time— the male, in fact, for several years. I have heard that 

 these birds are sometimes murderous, but mine were perfectly 

 harmless, though very well able to take care of themselves. 

 They had the common Sparrow habit of turning out the 

 contents of the seed-pan. The male was a rather noisy bird, 

 constantly repeating his monotonous chirp— indeed he would 

 begin to chirp at any time in the evening immediately a light 

 was shewn. No attempt at breeding was made, although the 

 birds appeared remarkably vigorous and healthy. They 

 ultimately both died in fits, the hen a few weeks after the 

 cock. 



I understand that the species has recently been bred by an 

 English aviculturist. 



I think my cock was an unusuall}' fine specimen, as the 

 3'ellow in his plumage was as bright and clear as that of a 

 Norwich Canary. 



I consider the species attractive and pleasing. H. R. F. 



