FRINGILLID^ PASSER 159 



Genus II. PASSER. 



Type. 

 Passer, Briss, Orn. iii, p. 71 (1760) P. domesticus. 



Bill strong and hard, somewhat conical, but bulging above and 

 below, longer than deep ; the upper mandible larger than the lower, 

 the edges nearly plain. Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, nearly 

 hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. Gape straight. 

 Wings with the first primary small and attenuated, but distinctly 

 developed, the third and fourth rather the longest, the second 

 nearly as long. Tail moderate and nearly square. Tarsi stout, 

 nearly as long as the middle toe, scutellated anteriorly, the sides 

 covered by a single plate. Claws moderately curved and rather 

 short. 



The genus Passer contains the well-known Sparrows, birds 

 which are found over the greater portion of Europe, Asia and 

 Africa, and some species of which have been of recent years intro- 

 duced into North America and Australia, where the}'' have increased 

 enormously. Twenty-six species of the genus are described, and 

 three of these are resident in South Africa. One of these, Passer 

 arcuatus, has, since the advent of Europeans, adapted itself to its 

 altered surroundings, and is now chiefly known as an inhabitant of 

 towns and villages. The majority of the Sparrows are of social habits, 

 living in large or small communities. They feed both on grain and 

 insects, and build, sometimes large and warmly lined domed nests 

 in trees or bushes, at others more open nests in holes of trees, rocks 

 or buildings. They lay from three to six eggs, which are usually 

 much mottled and spotted with brown and slate- colour, and rear 

 several broods in a season. 



Key to the Species. 



a. A white eyebrow. 



a 1 . Crown, ear-coverts, cheeks and throat black... P. arcuatus, $ , p. 160. 

 b l . Crown, ear coverts, cheeks and throat dusky- 

 brown P. arcuatu.s, 5? P 160. 



b. A reddish-buff eyebrow. 



c 1 . Crown, back of neck and ear-coverts grey; 



throat black P. motitensis, $ , p. 162. 



d l . Crown and back of neck brown ; ear-coverts 



whitish ; throat dusky P. motitensis, ? > P- 163. 



c. No eyebrow. 



e l . Crown, neck and sides of face dark grey; 



throat whitish ; sexes alike in plumage P. diffusus, p. 163. 



