FRINGILLWM—SPARRO WS. 



117 



At Southminster, about 1834, Mr. W. H. Hill described it (12. viii. 573) as 

 " occasionally abundant." Mr. Grubb says (12. vii. 518) it was repeatedly shot at 

 Lexden in the winter of 1833-4. Henry Doubleday, speaking of a visit he paid 

 to Colchester early in March, 1840, says (10) : " I saw scarcely any Tree Spar- 

 rows, which are ejenerally so common near Colchester." In March, 1841, he says 

 (10), " I saw many Tree Sparrows near Mersea Island." Mr. Clarke notes it 

 (24) as " not uncommon " round Saffron Walden at the time he wrote (about 

 1845). There are two specimens from Saffron Walden in the Museum at that town. 

 Mr. Grubb includes it (39) in his list of Sudbury birds, and King says (20) it 

 is " not uncommon "there. Mr. Buxton says (47. 87) that it is "common about the 

 pollard willows near the River Roding," but does not indicate at what time of year. 

 Mr. Hope describes it as " not uncommon in the county." During winter, and 

 especially during hard weather, they are by no means uncommon here, and I have 

 shot them out of flocks of common Sparrows. I have also frequently taken them with 

 the sparrow-nets at night. They never roost with the common Sparrows in corn- 

 stacks or in holes in thatch, but always, so far as my observation goes, singly and 

 in hay-stacks. Considerable flocks have sometimes been observed off the coast 

 on their way hither. Yarrell (37. ii. 85) quotes cases in which, in October, 1833, 

 flocks numbering 100 settled on a ship bound for the Thames, as she passed the 

 coast of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex ; and in November, i860, thousands boarded 

 a vessel between the Dogger Bank and the Galloper lightship. Dr. Laver has 

 shot them during the winter in both the Colchester and Paglesham districts, but 

 never knew them breed in either. In the latter district, however, Mr. Wiseman 

 informs me that it breeds in considerable numbers, and his son has frequently 

 taken their eggs. Round Harwich, it is " fairly common ; breeds in holes in trees, 

 also in trees covered with ivy at Ramsey " (Kerry). Mr. A. J. Crosfield of Rei- 

 gate informs me that he saw one close to Dagenhara Gulf on May 23rd, 1879, 

 when it must have been breeding. Several specimens labelled " Prating Abbey, 

 April, 1875," are in the collection of the late Dr. Bree. Round Danbury, though 

 not common, Mr. Smoothy says it certainly breeds, as he has seen the old birds 

 there during summer, as well as young birds just out of the nest. 



House Sparrow : Passer domesticus. 



An all-too-abundant resident everywhere. It is unquestion 

 very injurious bird to the farmer, consuming a large amount of 

 green w^heat when in the ear, and 

 much fewer insects than some sen- 

 timentalists would have us believe. 

 It also drives away Martins, by 

 taking possession of their nests. 

 I consider the late Col. Russell 

 was more than justified in his on- 

 slaught upon the sparrow and that 

 he fully made good his case. 

 Varieties, generally white or pied, 

 frequently occur. 



Lieut. Legge records (34. 32) a nest, 

 built during the first week in November, 



ably a 

 young 



HOUSE SPARROW 



