THE HOUSE SPARROW. 137 



Independently of the varieties produced by age, and which 

 are tolerably numerous, without being very remarkable, there 

 are some more remarked, such as those with a white head, a 

 back quite white, &c. 



Habitation. — In their wild state this species is scattered throughout 

 Europe; however, it is most probable that in the summer they only 

 inhabit the northern parts. During the three other seasons they are found 

 everywhere in Germany, particularly where there are large forests When 

 beech-mast is plentiful in Thuringia the mountain finches assemble in 

 immense numbers, it is supposed more than 100,000. 



In the house they are kept in a cage or not, according as they are 

 esteemed ; where they are common they are not thought worthy of one, 

 but allowed to range at will. 



Food Wild, and in confinement, it is the same as the chaffinch's. 



Mode of Taking. — This bird's note of call is 'iak, 'iak, qu'd'dk, and as 

 the two first sounds are the same as that of the chaffinch, they will come 

 at its call, and fly in its company. They also afford the best sport with a 

 net, for in autumn liundredsmay be taken at one cast. In winter they are 

 caught near barns under nets, or even under conmion sieves ; and in spring 

 on a decoy bush, at the call of the chaffinch, if one of its own species cannot 

 be procured. 



Attkactivp: Qualities. — We cannot boast of sweetness in the song of 

 this bird, as it consists of low whistling, or a kind of warbling, intermixed 

 at intervals with a shrill " rai7cA," the whole somewhat resembling the 

 first exercises of the chaffinch ; but this wretched warbling may be im- 

 proved by education. A mountain finch placed by the side of a cliaffinch 

 that sung well, learnt to imitate it tolerably, but I must confess that it 

 never attained great perfection. I should warn bird-fanciers wiio wish to 

 keep these birds for the beauty of their plumage, not to let them range with 

 many companions, for they are quarrelsome, and very lavish in distributing 

 severe pecks, esptcially if food is not very abundant. In Thuringia they 

 are kept in cages to be employed as lures in the area or decoy enclosure. 

 It is said that it is easier to teach them to go and come than the chaffinch. 



THE HOUSE SPARROW. 



Passer domestica, Ray; Le Moineau franc, Buffon ; Der Haussperling, 

 Bechstein. 



Though this and the following species cannot be reckoned 

 among those that are pleasant in a room, yet I must not omit 

 them on account of their being easily preserved, and though 

 distinguished neither for their song nor their colours, yet they 

 make up for the want of these by agreeable qualities, that many, 

 much more admired, do not possess. 



