SPARROW. 



HOUSE SPARROW. COMMON SPARROW. 



Passer domesticus, SELBY. 



Fringilla domestica, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Pyrgita domestica, FLEMING. 



Passer A Sparrow. Domesticus Domestic of, or pertaining to houses. 



THE geographical range of this well-known bird is very 

 extensive. It is common throughout Europe, from Denmark, 

 Norway, Sweden, and Dalmatia, to Spain, Portugal, Italy, the 

 Levant, Liguria, and all the islands of the Mediterranean; in 

 the north of Africa and the range of the Nubian Mountains; 

 in Asia also, in the Himalayan district, and in various other 

 parts. 



Everywhere he is the same, at least under the same 

 circumstances, except indeed in appearance; for, 'unlike, 

 how unlike,' is the smoke-begrimed Sparrow of the town, to 

 the handsomely-plumaged bird of the country! Everywhere 

 he makes himself at home, and 'sequo pulsat pede pauperumque 

 tabernas, regumque turres.' The 'cloud-capt towers' and the 

 'Poor Law Union,' the 'lowly thatched cottage,' and the 

 splendid Gothic mansion, nay, the very palace of the Queen 

 of England herself, one and all bear testimony to the 

 universality of the dispersion of the Sparrow, and the self- 

 accommodating nature of his domiciliary visitations. 



In this country it is everywhere, or nearly everywhere to 

 be seen in greater or less abundance. In the neighbourhood 

 of Doncaster, it comes under the latter category, for some 

 years ago I recorded in the 'Naturalist,' old series, vol. ii, 

 page 166, my observation, corroborated on his noticing it by 

 the editor, that there they are, I mean, that they were at 

 that time, far from common birds. 



