32 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Family FRIXGILLID.^i. Genus Passer. 



Sub-family FRINGILLIN^. 



TREE SPARROW. 



Passer montanus {Linnceus). 



Double Brooded generally. Laying season, April to June 

 or July. 



British breeding area : Owing to wide-spread 

 confusion with the House Sparrow, it is difficult to 

 trace the breeding area of this species with any detailed 

 completeness. It is certainly a local bird, and appears 

 to breed most commonly in the eastern and midland 

 counties of England, becoming rarer in the north and 

 west. It breeds very locally in Wales, whilst in Scotland, 

 although widely dispersed, it seems to be nowhere 

 common. Its principal breeding area across the border 

 is from the Lothians to Sutherlandshire on the east 

 coast ; although in the west, and on the Hebrides, it is 

 by no means unknown, and I found it breeding even in 

 remote St. Kilda. In Ireland it is even more local and 

 sparingly distributed. It is difficult to say whether this 

 species is slowly extending its range, or becoming 

 better known and more universally distinguished from 

 its commoner ally. 



Breeding habits : It is more than probable that 

 the Tree Sparrow pairs for life, inasmuch as the same 

 nesting-place will be used for a number of years in 

 succession. In its choice of a breeding-haunt the Tree 

 Sparrow differs considerably from the House Sparrow. 

 Although it frequents the neighbourhood of farm-houses 

 and out-buildings, it is much more of a field-haunting 

 species, and in a great many cases rears its young in 

 wild, uncultivated districts. The first nests are usually 

 commenced towards the end of March. The site chosen 



