244 BIRDS. GRANIVORA. 



F. domestica, Lin. The Common Sparrow. Top of the head and 

 occiput bluish ash-colour ; a chestnut band above the eyes, spread- 

 ing on the sides of the neck ; space between the bill and eye, 

 throat, and neck before of a deep black ; black feathers of the 

 breast margined with white ; feathers of the back and wings 

 black, bordered with chestnut ; a single white band across the 

 wing. 5 inches long. Europe. B. Selby, Illust. pi. 54, fig. 4, 5. 

 This well known bird, constantly found near the dwellings of man, is often perse- 

 cuted for its depredations ; though, according to Bradley, it is of essential service in 

 the general economy of nature as limiting the reproductive powers of insects. That 

 observer ascertained that one pair carried to their nest forty caterpillars in the space 

 of an hour ; so that, on the supposition of their entering the nest only during twelve 

 hours edch day, they would occasion a daily destruction of 480 caterpillars, or 3360 

 in a week. The flight of sparrows is short and laborious. They have no native 

 song, and, for the most part, only a disagreeable chirp ; but they are capable, when 

 in confinement, of acquiring the notes of the linnet and other birds. 



F. Cisalpina, Tern. Top of the head, neck, and part of the back, 

 chestnut-coloured, bright in summer ; region of the cheeks white; 

 otherwise resembling the preceding. Inhabits Southern Europe. 

 Tern. Man. 351. 



F. Hispaniolensis, Tern. Top of the head and neck bright deep 

 chestnut ; back and coverts black, but all the feathers margined 

 laterally with reddish-yellow ; throat and neck black ; long black 

 spots on the flanks ; cheeks and middle of belly white ; bill strong. 

 Inhabits Spain. Tern. Man. 353. 



F. montana, Lin. (Pyrgita, Cuv.) Mountain Finch. Top of the 

 head and occiput copper-red ; space between the bill and eye, 

 band over the eyes, throat, and fore part of the neck deep black ; 

 wings and tail deep brown; two white bands on the wings; breast 

 ash-coloured ; belly whitish ; bill black. 5 inches long. Inhabits 

 Europe. B. Selby, Illust. pi. 55, fig. 2. 



F. serinus, Lin. (Carduelis, Cuv.) Forehead, around the eyes, and 

 band above the eyes, yellowish-green ; stripe on the sides of the 

 neck olive; rump and breast yellow; two transverse bands on the 

 wings, one yellowish-green, the other brownish; belly whitish 

 yellow, with bluish spots ; tail slightly forked. 4|- inches long. 

 Inhabits Southern Europe. Tern. Man. 356. 



** Bill conical, more or less short, straight. 



F. Calebs, Lin. The Chaffinch. Forehead black ; top of the head 

 and neck blue ash-coloured ; back and scapulars chestnut, with 

 an olive tinge ; rump green ; all the lower parts reddish wine- 

 colour ; abdomen white ; wings and tail black ; two transverse 

 white bands on the wings, and a white spot on the lateral tail- 

 feathers. 6 inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Selby, Illust. 

 pi. 54, fig. 6, 7. 



The Chaffinch is widely disseminated, and found in almost all parts of Europe, 

 being sedentary in the warmer provinces, but migratory in those situate to the north- 

 ward. They begin their short and frequently-repeated caiol early in spring, and 

 continue it till the summer solstice, after which they only chirp. In confinement 

 they are capable of acquiring the notes of the canary, nightingale, &c. 



