THE TREE SPARROW. 139 



at. Finally, no bird becomes more familiar, or testifies more attachment 

 to its master. Its actions are very lively, confiding, and delicate. A 

 soldier, says Buffon, had a sparrow which followed him every where, and 

 knew him in the midst of the regiment. 



THE TREE SPARROW, LATH. 



Passer montana, RAY ; Friquet, ou Moineau des haies, BUFFON ; Der Feldsperling, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS species is more beautiful than the preceding. In length 

 it is five inches and a half ; the beak is dusky; the feet are 

 bluish flesh-coloured ; the upper part of the head as far as the 

 nape of the neck is reddish brown ; the cheeks are white with 

 a black spot ; a white ring surrounds the neck ; the back is 

 spotted with black and red ; the lower part of the back and 

 the rump are grey brown ; the throat white, the breast light 

 ash-coloured ; the belly dusky white ; the quill feathers and 

 tail are dark brown; the lesser wing-coverts rust-red; the 

 greater, black with red edges and white tips, which form two 

 transverse bars. 



Two varieties are known, the white and streaked. 



HABITATION. In their wild state, they are not only found throughout 

 Europe, but also in the north of Asia and America. In Germany and 

 England it is not so common as the house sparrow, for in some provinces 

 it is never seen. It frequents gardens, orchards, and fields abounding with 

 trees and hedges. In September, large flights are seen to fall upon the ripe 

 fields of barley and oats. 



In the house it is let run about like the former, which it does very 

 awkwardly from having short legs, and this gives it the appearance of drag- 

 ging along on its belly. It is only kept in a cage in countries where it is 

 very rare. 



Foon This is the same as that of the preceding. 



BREEDING The nest must be sought in the holes of fruit trees, or in 



hollow willows at the water's edge ; it breeds twice in the year. 



MODE OF TAKING This is the same as the preceding; but being less 

 distrustful and cunning, it is easily enticed under a sieve placed before a 

 barn in winter. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. Its plumage is prettier than the preceding, its 

 song is also less short and monotonous ; but it is weak, and when it might 

 be sweet, it is lost among the other songs in the room. The tree sparrow 

 might be accustomed in the country to go and come at command by treat- 

 ing it in the manner described with respect to the house sparrow. It is 

 more difficult to preserve it, and it generally dies of decline. 



