THE BIRDS OF RAIiNHAM. 37 



HOUSE-SPARROW. 

 Passer domesticus (Linn.). 



The bold hardy sparrows, no weather however 

 severe affects them ; they swarm round our stacks and 

 farm buildings in the winter, and when the summer 

 comes they no doubt pick up insects for their young, 

 redeeming in a small measure their offences. Corn is 

 the food of the sparrow, they will rob the poultry if 

 they can, no time of year are they so mischievous as 

 when the corn is approaching maturity before 

 harvest ; this is the sparrows' feast, they make the 

 best use of it, they assemble together in flocks with 

 their young, doing the farmer much damage almost 

 without a cure ; white and cream-coloured varieties 

 are often met with. 



TREE-SPARROW. 

 Passer montanus (Linn.). 



The Tree-Sparrow is common in the autumn and 

 winter, arrives in October and November, keeps com- 

 pany with the finches on the stubble fields and round 

 the corn stacks. I have observed them in small 

 flocks by themselves on the marsh walls and beside 

 the stable doors ; they do not appear to breed in my 

 district, though a pair or two may possibly have done 

 so. 



