THE HOUSE-SPARROW. 7 



specimen in a large pail hanging on the branch of a tree, the depth of this nest 

 was at least i6-inches, and the width close upon a foot: it was too bulky to carry 

 away and was hardly suitable for a collection, so I left it where it was. But the 

 most marvellous Sparrow's nest I ever saw is one in my collection obtained from 

 the forking branches of a large hawthorn, at Kemsley, near Sheppy ; it is roughly 

 circular, saucer-shaped, and altogether has more the character of a Duck's than a 

 Sparrow's nest ; the four eggs in it also all differ, the darkest egg being similar 

 in character to the most richly coloured eggs of the Tree-Sparrow, whilst the 

 lightest is white with smoky grey spots and dots crowded chiefly at the larger 

 end, so that it has quite a Shrike-like character, (figs. 142 & 143 are from this nest.) 



The number of eggs ranges from four to seven, but rarely exceeds six : the 

 colouring both of ground-tint and marking varies more than in most birds, and as 

 I have selected all the best-marked modifications for illustration on our plate, it 

 would be only a waste of space to describe them ; but it may perhaps be as well 

 to call attention to the fact that the whitest and least boldly marked varieties are 

 found in places to which light has had little access. 



In 1877 I had clear proof of the unthinking obstinacy of the Sparrow, a pair 

 having built in the roller-box of a sun-blind during dull weather, the pulling down 

 of the blind with the first hot day destroyed the nest ; no sooner, however, was 

 the blind pulled up than the Sparrows set to work and replaced it. This went 

 on so continually and repeatedly that I wrote to the late Charles Darwin, asking 

 him whether he did not think it would be interesting to publish the fact, as 

 evidence of the feeble reasoning powers of this species : his reply, dated May 9th, 

 1877, I still have, with other letters from him. " My dear Sir, I have been 

 always inclined to think that Sparrows were acute and crafty birds, but you 

 certainly show that they are fools, and if they go on behaving in so idiotic a 

 manner, you will do quite right to expose their conduct in some public journal ! 

 Yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin." As this unreflecting perseverance under difficulties 

 continued altogether for nearly a month, I sent an account to the " Zoologist," 

 1877, pp. 299-300. 



The House-Sparrow can hardly be said to have a song, its best performance 

 being little more than a chirrup interspersed with sharp chirps, but often early 

 in the morning you will hear several apparently engaged in conversation chow, chow, 

 chivi, chivi, chow, chivi, to which the reply is whit! perhaps followed by two or 

 three rapid harsh chirps: chivi is the cry of the young for food, and the adult 

 bird when caught in a trap expresses his rage by indignant chows. I never heard 

 the Sparrow utter any sound like tell, but think the note which Mr. Witchell 

 renders tell, must be that which sounds to me like c/nn<.\ 



