HOUSE SPARROW. 295 



there is deposited an immense mass of feathers. 

 Bushes in the vicinity are also fixed upon, and 

 we once knew a party breeding regularly on some 

 tall Scotch firs that stood near a cottage, and 

 from want of early thinning, exhibited long bare 

 stems, with a close tufted head, which was chosen 

 for the retreat of these active birds. The nests, 

 when built thus exposed, are composed of hay, 

 straw, or grass collected, and form a large irre- 

 gular heap when one or two are placed together, 

 little inferior in size to the nest of a Magpie. 

 The entrance is generally at one side, and the 

 centre is abundantly lined with feathers. In a 

 rookery, we have frequently seen the nest of the 

 crows serving for a cover ; or if the mass had 

 been of some years standing, holes were formed 

 in it, and used as those in the eaves of houses. 



The distribution of the House Sparrow has 

 been accounted very extensive. Over Europe it 

 is very generally spread, being less frequent, 

 perhaps, in the south. It extends to Northern 

 Africa, and it is reputed to be found in several 

 parts of India, both on the plains and Himalaya 

 range. Some years since, Mr Selby and myself 

 described an Indian Sparrow as distinct, though 

 very closely allied ; and it may be possible that 

 this bird may have been considered as that of 

 Europe by some of those who have mentioned its 

 occurrence on the Asiatic continent. We subjoin 

 the distinctions which we at the time thought 

 existed between the bird of India and our own, 

 so that a comparison can be made. 



