INSESSOEES. 83 



have seen them dart into the ah^ like a Flycatcher to 

 seize a passing insect, and climb a tree, inspecting 

 every crevice, like a Creeper. They are very pugna- 

 cious, and I have often been amused in watching the 

 contests that take place when a pair of these birds 

 endeavour to turn out a pair of Martins from their 

 nest. On two or three occasions, when I had shot 

 one of the old Sparrows, I found that the survivor 

 soon found another mate, and returned to renew the 

 contest for possession. 



Varieties not unfrequently occcur. In the winter 

 of 1860-1, a pure white Sparrow was frequently seen 

 in the neighbourhood of a rick-yard at Kingsbury, 

 and I find, on referring, to my note-book for the year 

 1868, that on September 19th, and during several 

 previous days, a white Sparrow had been observed 

 in Kenton Lane, between Kingsbury and Kenton. 

 A pair of white Sparrows were shot within a few 

 days of each other in the grounds of Sudbury Hill 

 House, near Harrow, in the autumn of 1860 ; and a 

 cream-coloured variety was shot at Willesden Green 

 Farm in September, 1863. In August, 1864, a yellow 

 or straw-coloured Sparrow was several times seen 

 by a friend at Sudbury ; and one day in November, 

 1865, while driving to London, I saw on the road, 

 near Kilburn, a Sparrow which had the quill-feathers 

 in each wing white. 



Greenfinch, Fringilla chloris. A common re- 

 sident, flocking with Sparrows, Chaffinches, and 



