THE TREE SPARUOW, 19 



The soBg of the^ Tree Sparrow is somewhat similar to 

 that of the Common Sparrow, but is higher, consisting of 

 numerous chirps, varied by some agreeable notes, which are 

 continued for some minutes in a loud key; but the entire 

 performance is unmistakably sparrow-like. 



This bird is said to be indigenous in most European 

 countries, and is also to be found in many parts of Asia. 

 As regards our own country, it is locally migratory, arriving 

 in Sussex about October in considerable numbers, and 

 departing in April, or earlier. It has been, and still 

 is, frequently caught in company with other birds by the 

 bird-catchers on the South Downs. It is also met with 

 in Worcestershire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Northampton- 

 shire, Surrey, Essex, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and a few 

 other counties. In Dev^onshire and Cornwall it would 

 aj^pear to be almost unknown;" and the same remark, 

 according to other writers, applies to Ireland and 

 Scotland. 



The length of the Tree^Sparrow is about five and a half 

 inches. The iris is dark brown; head chocolate, and a 

 black streak runs through the eye to the beak; sides of 

 the neck white, with a triangular spot of black on the 

 cheek ; throat black ; back of the neck chestnut, streaked 

 with black; breast greyish- white, tinged with brown on 

 the sides; back chestnut, with black streaks or spots. 

 The wings have two distinct bands of white across them, 

 and are of a blackish -brown colour; the under wing-coverts 

 are pale fawn colour > the tail feathers are nearly all of 

 equal length: they are of a greyish-brown, edged with 

 yellowish-grey. The legs are a pale yellowish-brown, as 

 are also the toes and claws. 



The female, unlike the House Sparrow, resembles 



