g6 TiiK Trhh-Sparrow 



to the sky, were deepest iu cuUmriug ; the uest contaiuiug au almost white egg 

 was from the ruined liuie-kilu, and was ahuost as much in the dark as if it had 

 been taken from a Sand-Martin's burrow. Lord Lilford's eggs being taken from 

 holes in full-sized trees, and not from the tops of pollards, were probabl}' but little 

 exposed to light. 



The Tree-Sparrow is a more active sprightly bird than its commoner relative ; 

 and, although it can hardly be said to have a song,* its chirruping is somewhat 

 more melodious, its chirp is sharper, and the indignant utterance of a recently 

 captured bird is shriller. 



Although the Tree-Sparrow does not breed so continuously as the House- 

 Sparrow, which in mild seasons appears to rear family after famih' throughout the 

 greater part of the year, there is no doubt that it frequentl}' produces three broods 

 in a season. When feeding its young it eats caterpillars, spiders, and various 

 kinds of insects, as well as leaves and unripe seeds of weeds ; but at other times 

 it appears to confine its attentions principally to different kinds of seeds. 



On several occasions bird-catchers have offered me Tree-Sparrows at from 

 twopence to threepence apiece ; but the birds looked so vindictive and chirped so 

 savagely that, considering their powerful beaks, I decided not to risk associating 

 them with the other members of my feathered family. Although opinions differ 

 greatly respecting the character of this species, I am satisfied that I adopted the 

 safest course. Stevenson (Birds of Norfolk, Vol. I, p. 209) says : — " In confinement 

 the Tree-Sparrows are certainly the shyest and most untameable of any birds I 

 have ever introduced into my aviary, and even time seems to work but little change 

 in their wild nature, as on the approach of an}' person, whether a stranger or not, 

 they dash about the cage iu a reckless manner, and when exhausted and panting 

 with fright, will creep into any corner or dark spot to escape notice." 



Lord Lilford observes : — " In captivity the Tree-Sparrow thrives well upon 

 canary- and millet-seed, and becomes very tame."t 



Swaysland, who has had considerable experience in keeping many of our 

 British Birds, remarks : — " When caught do not place immediately iu an aviar}-, as 

 they would then invariably sulk and behave wildly, frightening the other birds, 

 but rather keep in a small cage until tame." 



Howard Saunders (Manual, p. 174) says: — " In captivity this species has bred 



• The late Rev. H. A. Macphersou assured me that the Tree-Sparrow has a very sweet song; a fact 

 vouched for independently by Mr. J. Whitaker and the late Edward Blyth. In 1906 a friend (Mr. Allen Silver) 

 gave me a pair, and I have been looking forward ever since to the pleasure of hearing this "sweet song," 

 but up to the present time only an ordinary sharp chirp has been uttered : I find them, as Stevenson did, 

 exceedingly wild and tempestuous birds. 



t I should certainly add oats.-r-A.G.B. 



