THE TREE SPARROW 
PASSER MONTANUS 
Loca names in surrounding counties : 
Srarus 1n British AviraunA: A comparatively rare 
and local resident, although widely and irregularly dis- 
persed, its numbers increased in autumn by migrants, 
which visit areas in winter where the species is seldom 
or never known to breed. 
RapiaL DistRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: It is a rather remarkable fact that the Tree 
Sparrow in England shows an antipathy to towns, whilst 
on the Continent in many places it is quite as familiar in 
them as the House Sparrow. Iam unable to say whether 
the Tree Sparrow ever visits the central parts of the 
Metropolitan area; I have never observed it in the urban 
parks or in any of the open spaces, although I am always 
on the watch for it. “That it draws nearer to the city 
limits during winter seems certain ; it has been recorded 
from ‘Tooting at that season, and I have met with it then 
in the Wembley and Kingsbury districts. It breeds and 
is a resident in the Epping area, but is excessively local. I 
know of no breeding-places in Middlesex, but in Surrey 
it certainly nests in the Richmond district, and has also 
been found doing so at Wimbledon. ‘The species is 
probably confused a good deal with the House Sparrow, 
and its distribution within the London limits requires 
careful investigation. ‘The available evidence all tends 
to show that the bird is very local, and that it is most 
frequently detected near London during winter. 
Due allowance being made for difference of haunt and 
conditions of existence, the habits of the Tree Sparrow 
closely resemble those of the preceding species. It may 
readily be distinguished from its commoner ally by its 
uniform chestnut head and black ear-coverts, and as the 
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