92 The House-Sparrow 



simply gigantic specimen in a large pail liaugiug on tlie branch uf a tree, the 

 depth of this nest was at least i6-inches, and the width close upon a foot: it 

 was too bulky to carry away and was hardly suitable for a collection, so I left it 

 where it was. But the most marvellous Sparrow's nest I ever saw is one in nu- 

 collection obtained from the forking branches of a large hawthorn, at Kemsley, 

 near Sheppy ; it is roughly circular, saucer-shaped, and altogether has more the 

 character of a Duck's than a Sparrow's nest ; the four eggs in it also all differ, 

 the darkest egg being similar in character to the most richly coloured eggs of 

 the Tree-Sparrow, whilst the lightest is v.'hite with smoky-grey spots and dots 

 crowded chiefly at the larger end, so that it has quite a Slirike-like character, 

 (figs. 142 and 143 are from this nest.) 



The number of eggs ranges from four to seven, but rarely exceeds six : the 

 colouring both of grouud-tint and marking varies more than in most birds, and 

 as I have selected all the best-marked modifications for illustration on our plate, 

 it would be only a waste of space to describe them ; but it ma}- perhaps be as 

 well to call attention to the fact that the whitest and least boldly marked varieties 

 are found in places to which light has had little access. 



In 1877 I had clear proof of the unthinking obstinacy of the Sparrow, a pair 

 having built in the roller-box of a sun-blind during dull weather, the pulling down 

 of the blind with the first hot day destroyed the nest ; no sooner, however, was 

 the blind pulled up than the Sparrows set to work and replaced it. This went 

 on so continually and repeatedly that I wrote to the late Charles Darwin, asking 

 him whether he did not think it would be interesting to publish the fact, as 

 evidence of the feeble reasoning powers of this species : his repl}'- dated May 9th, 

 1877, I still have, with other letters from him. — " My dear Sir, I have been 

 always inclined to think that Sparrows were acute and crafty birds, but j-ou 

 certainly show that they are fools, and if they go on behaving in so idiotic a 

 manner, you will do quite right to expose their conduct in some public journal ! 

 — Yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin." As this unreflecting perseverance under difficulties 

 continued altogether for nearly a mouth, I sent an account to the " Zoologist," 

 1877, pp. 299-300. 



The House-Sparrow can hardly be said to have a song, its best performance 

 being little more than a chirrup interspersed with sharp chirps, but often early 

 in the morning you will hear several apparently engaged in conversation 

 c/iow, choiu, chivi, chivi, choiv, chivi, to which the reply is whit! perhaps followed 

 b}' two or three rapid harsh chirps : chivi is the cry of the 3^oung for food, 

 and the adult bird when caught in a trap expresses his rage by indignant 

 chows. I never heard the Sparrow utter any sound like tell, but think the 



