354 SINGING BIRDS. 



HOUSE SPARROW. 



english sparrow. 

 Passer domesticus. 



Char. General color grayish brown, the back streaked with black ; a 

 narrow stripe of white over the eyes ; cheeks with patches of chestnut and 

 white ; sides and neck white ; throat and breast black, sometimes washed 

 with chestnut; wings brown with white bar; tail brown ; belly dull white. 

 Female : paler, without the black throat-patch. Length about 6 inches. 



Nest. Anywhere and of any material, — usually a bulky affair, roughly 

 made of dry grass and feathers. 



Eggs. 4-7 ; grayish white speckled with rich brown and pale lavender ; 

 0.85 X 0.60. 



This is another introduced species; but about its naturalization 

 there is, unfortunately, no doubt. 



The history of the introduction of this bird, and its relation to 

 American agriculture, is exhaustively treated in a volume prepared 

 by Mr. Walter B. Barrows, under the direction of Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam, ornithologist to the Department of Agriculture, and 

 issued from the Government Printing Office at Washington in 

 1889. From it we learn that the first importation of this Sparrow 

 was made by Hon. Nicholas Pike, and the birds were liberated in 

 Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1851. The first batch did not thrive, so others 

 — about a hundred — were brought over during 1852 and 1853. In 

 1854 Colonel Rhodes, of Quebec, brought a number from England 

 and liberated some in Portland, Me., the remainder being taken 

 to Quebec. During the following ten years a few hundred were 

 brought from Europe and scattered between Portland and New 

 York, some thirty being turned out on Boston Common. About 

 1869 a thousand were taken to Philadelphia, and several cities in 

 the interior received each a few pairs. 



From these imported birds have sprung the hosts of "ruffians in 

 feathers " that have taken possession of every town and village, 

 from Cape Breton to Florida, and west to Kansas. 



A few pairs were taken to southern Greenland, and though some 

 lived through several winters, the entire flock at last perished. 



Note. — The European Tree Sparrow {Passer niontanus') 

 has also been introduced. A few years ago a number were liber- 

 ated in St. Louis, and have become thoroughly naturalized there. 

 This bird is closely related to the House Sparrow, which it resembles 

 in appearance and in habits. The Tree Sparrow has not, however, 

 increased so rapidly as its congener, nor proved so great a pest. 



