211 



THE COCK SPARROW. 



CHAPTER XV. 



SPARROWS AND FINCHES. THE HOUSE AND TREE SPARROWS, 

 CHAFFINCH. MOUNTAIN FINCH. AND HAWFINCH. 



T 



SHE extensive family Passerince, is composed of birds 

 whose average size does not exceed that of the com> 

 mon House Sparrow, which is the best known and most 

 extensively distributed species of its tribe. The five 

 genera into which this family has been divided have all 

 British representatives, which generally agree in the charac- 

 teristics which they present. They have all ovate bodies, 

 compact and stout, short necks, large heads, and moderately 

 long wings and tails. They are generally distributed over 

 the country, and are for the most part numerous. Many 

 of them keep to the cultivated districts, and nearly all in 

 winter draw near to human habitations, and derive, in 

 very severe weather, the principal part of their food from 

 the farm, the stackyard, and the stubble field. 



