Birds of Britain 



is created ; grain, the Sparrow's favourite food, is cultivated 

 in enormous quantities, and birds of prey who might tend 

 to keep the Sparrow within reasonable limits are ruthlessly 

 destroyed. Under these circumstances, then, is it to be 

 wondered at that the Sparrow, having a large number of his 

 competitors for food reduced, his enemies swept away, and 

 unlimited food supplied, should increase beyond all reason- 

 able bounds, especially if added to this we remember that 

 he is exceedingly crafty and cunning, soon recognising and 

 avoiding traps and becoming very difficult to approach in 

 places where he is frequently shot at. He is at the same 

 time adaptable and able to attach himself to the dwell- 

 ings of man, who supplies him (albeit involuntarily) with a 

 plethora of food ; under such conditions his increase is only 

 the result of one of Nature's first laws, the " survival of the 

 fittest." 



This species is too well known to need a description. 

 The female lacks the black on the throat and the grey and 

 chestnut on the crown, and her colours generally are much 

 duller. The young approach the female in general colora- 

 tion, but young males often show traces of black on the 

 throat. Length 6 in. ; wing 3 in. 



TREE-SPARROW 



Passer m on tan us (Linnaeus) 



Although so closely allied to the preceding pest, the 

 Tree-Sparrow is a bird of very different temperament and 



124 



