15 



principally of insects, which it captures on the wing. The nest, usually 

 placed among creepers or trellis-work, or in a hole in a wall or tree (as 

 here shown), is made of moss, lichen and strips of bark, lined with wool, 

 hair and feathers. The eggs, varying in number from four to six, are 

 pale greenish -white, spotted and blotched with a deep rusty hue (see 

 British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 4). Two broods are often laid in a 

 season. 



Case 144. 



TREE SPARROW {Passer montanus). 



The Tree Sparrow is a much rarer bird than the House Sparrow, 

 and its distribution is more local. It is never seen in towns, but it may 

 approach villages, where it associates with the house sparrow. It 

 frequents old trees more or less remote from houses and is a very active 

 bird with rapid flight. Its food is similar to that of the House Sparrow, 

 but consists more of small seeds than grain. The Tree Sparrow is 

 rather a late breeder and is exceedingly partial to building .in pollard 

 willows. The nest is loosely put together, and is made of dry grass, 

 straw and rootlets. The eggs, from four to six in number, vary consider- 

 ably in colour in different clutches (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, 

 drawer 4), and two, sometimes three, broods are reared in a season. 



Case 145. 



NUTHATCH {Sitta cassia). 

 Local name : Kitty Wren. 



A common resident in the southern and central districts of England, 

 and in parts of Wales, but rare towards the north, only seen as a 

 straggler in Scotland, and unknown in Ireland. It feeds on insects, 

 acorns and hard seeds. It is extremely partial to hazel nuts, which 

 it wedges in some crevice and breaks by repeated blows from its strong 

 bill, hence its name Nuthatch (i.e., Nuthack). The nest, of dry leaves 

 and bark, is built in a hole of a tree or other cavity, the entrance being 

 reduced to a small aperture with clay. Five to six white eggs, blotched 

 with reddish-brown (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 3) are laid 

 about the end of April. 



Case 146. 



HOUSE SPARROW {Passer domesticus). 



Commonly found throughout the British Islands, attached to the 

 habitation of man, appearing and rapidly increasing wherever the 

 land is brought under cultivation. It is not particular as to site 

 for its nest, which is placed in any suitable situation on buildings 

 or trees in their vicinity. When in trees it constructs a 

 large domed nest (as here shown) with an entrance in the side. It 



