INSESSORES. PASSER. 297 



strong bill, and by the convenient form of the cutting 

 of the lower mandible. Many of the species associate in 

 large flocks during the autumn and winter. They have a 

 wide geographical distribution, some being found in most 

 climates, and in all parts of the globe. 



GENUS PASSER, AUCT. SPARROW. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL strong, conical, longer than deep, the upper mandible 

 slightly curved ; the tip emarginate ; culmen slightly raised ; 

 lower mandible compressed, and smaller than the upper. 

 Nostrils lateral, immediately behind the bulging base of the 

 upper mandible, round, and nearly concealed from view by 

 small frontal plumes. Wings having the second quill-fea- 

 ther rather the longest. Legs with the tarsi of nearly the 

 same length as the middle toe ; toes three before and one be- 

 hind, the front ones divided ; claws sharp and curved ; that 

 of the hind toe rather exceeding in size that of the middle 

 one. Tail square, or very slightly forked. 



The Sparrows, which form a well marked group, and are 

 widely distributed, bear throughout all the species a marked 

 resemblance to each other in the prevailing colours and dis- 

 position of their plumage. With the Buntings and other 

 birds belonging to the preceding Subfamily they are inti- 

 mately allied by the means of the Ground-Sparrows and 

 others of North America ; and, by the intervention of the 

 genus Pipilo (ViEiLL.) the necessary connection is also kept 

 up with the Subfamily Tanagrma. In Europe, besides the 

 Common and Tree Sparrows (which are natives of Britain), 

 three other spirir^ air recognised, viz. Passer Cisalpina 

 (TEMM.), Passer Pctronia (LiNN.), and Passer Hispaniolcn- 



sis(T EMM.) 



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