86 FR1NGILLIDJE. 



been found. In England probably, and in Scotland certainly, 

 it is more numerous in tbe east than in the west, while in 

 Ireland it was altogether unknown until procured by Mr. 

 Blake-Knox (Zool. s.s. p. 2018) at Dalkey and Baldoyle, 

 where, though scarce, it is believed to be resident. It is not 

 found in Orkney or Shetland, but, about 1869, a few pairs 

 reached the Faeroes, where they have not only settled but 

 thriven and multiplied, so much so, writes Capt. Feilden, as 

 to be a perfect pest. In Norway also this species seems to 

 be extending its range, and, though extremely local and 

 mostly confined to the coast-district, it has, according to Herr 

 Collett, crossed the Arctic Circle. Pastor Sommerfelt saw 

 four examples, he says, in 1855 at Polmak on the Tana, which 

 were collecting feathers for their nests, though these he could 

 not find.* Throughout Sweden and Finland it occurs, but 

 is still rare and exceedingly local. Thence it is found in 

 places, and sometimes abundantly, to the Petchora valley. 

 Indeed its numbers seem to increase as we go eastward, and 

 it extends across Siberia to the Pacific and reaches Japan, 

 being common, according to Capt. Blakiston and Mr. Henry 

 Whitely, at Hakodadi. Throughout China and its chief 

 islands it was observed by Mr. Swinhoe to take the place of 

 the House- Sparrow, inhabiting the towns and behaving with 

 the careless effrontery generally considered to be the peculiar 

 characteristic of that species, but this seems also to be the 

 case wherever it occurs in Southern Asia. According to Dr. 

 Cabanis (Mus. Hein. i. p. 156) it has been sent from Manilla 

 in the Philippines, but there is nothing to shew that it may 

 not have been originally imported thither from China. 

 However it is said to be the common Sparrow of Java, arid 

 Dr. Cantor procured it at Singapore. Sir Eobert Schomburgh 

 describes it as being plentiful in Siam (Ibis, 1864, p. 256), 

 and it is certainly found from Pegu (where the natives treat 

 it, according to Beavan, with the greatest kindness) and 

 Arracan, throughout the hill-ranges of Assam and along the 



* The Editor and his companions Messrs. Wolley and Hudleston who were at 

 this place the same summer were not even so fortunate as their friend the 

 worthy pastor. No birds of this species were seen by them there. 



