26 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Food. Insects and their larvae, spiders, &c. ; in 

 winter, more omnivorous. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. A variety of places, usually amongst ivy. 

 against tree-trunk, in grassy bank, in thatch or side of 

 rick, in furze, brambles, &c. 



Materials. Varying according to site, as the nest is 

 usually composed of materials harmonizing with its 

 surroundings. Dead leaves, grass, moss, bents, fern- 

 fronds, &c., lined with moss, hair, and feathers. Domed 

 nest. 



Eggs. Five to eight or more. White, thinly spotted 

 with red. 



HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus). 



Common everywhere. 



Plumage. Crown, nape, and lower part of back 

 slate-grey. Lores black. Back and chest nut-brown 

 streaked with black. Wings brown with white bar on 

 middle coverts. Tail blackish brown. Throat and 

 breast black. Cheeks and sides of neck white ; under 

 parts dingy white. Bill bluish black. Legs pale brown. 

 Length 6 in. Female, duller ; no black on throat and 

 breast ; white bar on wings less distinct ; under parts 

 browner. Young, like female but paler. 



Language. A variety of notes, none of which are really 

 musical. Usually a chirping kind of " chissic," and 

 others like " chow, chow, chivi, chivi, chow-chivi." 



Habits. Gregarious even at nesting-time, and usually 

 seen in foraging parties of half-a-dozen or more. In 

 towns it performs the useful office of a scavenger, but in 

 the country it is apt to become a pest in the farmer's 

 estimation. It hops on the ground. In the love season 

 the male has a curious habit of puffing out his feathers 

 and drooping his wings, all the while pirouetting round 

 chirping gaily, apparently for the delectation of the 

 female. It will fight very desperately with others of its 



