206 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Kasrin, Central Tunisia. 



Differs from P. domesticus in having the crown and nape rich chestnut- 

 red, the ear-coverts and sides of neck of a purer white, the back and upper 

 parts blacker, some of the feathers margined with white, the black on the 

 breast extending over a large expanse, and the sides and flanks thickly 

 streaked with black. It is also rather a larger bird than P. domesticus, with 

 a stouter biU and tarsus. 



Soft parts as in P. domesticus. 



Total length 5'75 inches, wing 3'10, culmen -55, tarsus -85. 



Adult female resembles the female of P. domesticus. 



Observations. — From the above description it will be seen that the adult 

 male of the present species differs from that of P. italice chiefly in having 

 the breast, sides and flanks thickly streaked with black, and the back darker 

 and less rufous ; otherwise the two species are much alike. 



Like other Sparrows, the Spanish Sparrow often has an admixture of 

 rufous-brown in the black of the throat and breast. 



This species is the common Sparrow of Tunisia, and is to be met 

 with generally throughout the Eegency, in towns and villages as well 

 as in the open country. In the west of the Eegency, where it meets 

 P. domesticus, it seems to interbreed freely with that species, 

 specimens obtained in those districts almost invariably showing 

 signs of hybridism. Vast flocks are to be met with in winter 

 and early spring in some of the central and southern districts 

 of Tunisia, frequenting the tamarisk clumps by the banks of streams 

 and oueds, and the noise the birds make when congregating together 

 of an evening, preparatory to roosting, is at times simply deafening. 

 In Sicily, where the present species is also the Sparrow of the country, 

 I have noticed the same thing, and in my garden at Palermo, during 

 the winter and early spring, vast numbers congregate of an evening 

 and roost in some high trees by the side of a small lake. When the 

 breeding season commences these flocks break up, and the birds are 

 then to be seen in pairs or very small parties. In some parts of 

 Tunisia, however, the Spanish Sparrow may be found breeding in 

 large colonies among the tamarisk and wild jujube bushes. At the 

 village of Feriana I found Sparrows breeding in considerable numbers 

 during the month of April, their nests being placed in buildings as 

 well as in trees, mostly poplars. At the town of Sousa on the east 

 coast of the Regency I also found the present species breeding at the 



