42 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



Rev. C. H. Crooke writes to me under date February 

 2nd, 1890, "I beg to say that Sparrows are by no 

 means uncommon in our parish (Shepstor), not 

 found perhaps in such large numbers as in some 

 towns and villages, but still frequently to be met 

 with. There are frequently none to be seen in our 

 roads or in our gardens, but, on the other hand, 

 oiven seed-time and fine weather or even hard 

 frost and snow, Sparrows and Robins, Blackbirds 

 and Thrushes, at other times invisible, put in an 

 appearance pretty freely." 



TREE SPARROW.— Prtssp>- montnnas, (Linn). 

 A WINTER visitant, probably nesting in one or two 

 localities in South Devon. Mr. Gatcombe first met 

 with this species near Plymouth, in March, 1857, 

 when two Tree Sparrows were killed on a farm in 

 that district among other small birds. He had 

 never before met with the species in Devon. The 

 Rev. F. J. Dickinson says, the Tree Sparrow was 

 unknown in the Kingsbridge district, " until a 

 specimen was shot by Mr. Rumidge of Worthy,'' in 

 January, 1888. Since then Dr. E. A. S. Elliot has 

 shot two specimens, so that there can be no 

 reasonable doubt but that the birds are indigenous, 

 but extremely local. 



CHAFFINCH.— i^rm///?/^ cmlebs, Linn. 

 An abundant resident in our woods and gardens, 

 the migratory movements of which are extensive, 

 often occurring early in autumn. Thus, in the 



