BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 73 



however, be looked upon as anything more than a 

 very rare occasional straggler, by no means occurring 

 every year. 



It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, and 

 marked as occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There 

 is no specimen at present in the Museum. 



64. TREE SPARROW. Passer montanus, Linnaeus. 

 French, " Friquet." The Tree Sparrow breeds, and 

 is probably resident in the Islands. Up to this 

 year, 1878, I have only seen it once myself, and 

 that was on the 7th of June, 1876, just outside the 

 grounds of the Vallon in Guernsey. From the 

 date and from the behaviour of the bird I have no 

 doubt it had a nest just inside the grounds. I could 

 not then, however, make any great search for the 

 nest without trespassing, though I got sufficiently 

 near the bird to be certain of its identity. This 

 year, 1878, I could not see one anywhere about the 

 Vallon, either inside or outside the grounds. I saw, 

 however, one or two about the Vale, but they were 

 very scarce. I have not myself seen the Tree 

 Sparrow in any of the other Islands. 



It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and 

 marked as occurring in Sark only. I have not seen 

 a specimen at Mr. Couch's, or any of the other 

 bird-stuffers, but there is one in the Museum and 

 some eggs, all of which are probably Guernsey. 



