PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 77 



2. Distribution. Except in Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, it is found 

 in nearly every part of Europe where there are human habitations and cultiva- 

 tion. It is also represented by closely allied races of the same species in 

 North Africa, West Asia, and India. As an artificially introduced species 

 in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, it has multiplied and spread 

 to an extraordinary extent. It is abundant throughout the British Isles, 

 except on a few of the smallest islands and in some Highland localities, but of 

 comparatively recent appearance in some of the outlying portions formerly 

 uncultivated. [A. L. T.] 



3. Migration. Resident, but the fact that it forsakes some exposed local- 

 ities in winter, and that it sometimes occurs " singly or in flocks, at the lightships 

 and rock-stations " (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 59 ; and others), 

 seems to indicate that it migrates at times. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : any convenient recess, e.g. in ivy-covered 

 trees, rocks, cuffs, stacks, eaves, spouts, holes, and also sometimes among the 

 branches of trees. The nest is domed when in the open, and partially so when 

 sheltered by ivy or in a hole. It is very carelessly made of straw, hay, with odds 

 and ends, and warmly lined, usually with feathers. Both sexes share in its con- 

 struction. The eggs, 3-7 in number, but usually 4 or 5, vary a good deal, and one 

 egg in a set is often much more lightly marked than the rest. They are generally 

 mottled and spotted all over with varying shades of ashy grey and brown. Some 

 varieties are distinctly reddish in tone ; others have a tendency to a cap of darker 

 markings at the big end, while occasionally white eggs are found. (PL B.) 

 Average size of 100 eggs, '86 x -61 in. [22 x 15'6 mm.]. Laying usually begins in 

 May, but in towns, and where the climate is mild, often much earlier. Accord- 

 ing to Naumann both sexes incubate, according to others the hen only. 

 Period of incubation 11-14 days. In an incubator 13-14 days (W. Evans, 

 Ibis, 1891). Two to three broods, sometimes more, are raised. [F. c. B. J. 

 F. B. K.] 



5. Food. Seeds, buds, fruit, berries, insects, spiders. The young are fed 

 on insects. Also on grains of wheat and barley (0. V. Aplin, B. of Oxfordshire). 

 Both parents share the duty. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. In the case of individual birds a short continuous series 

 of notes may sometimes be heard, to which the term song might be applied. Flocks 

 may often be heard, in autumn and winter, uttering for several minutes a continu- 

 ous chatter. [F. B. K.] 



