TIIE TREE SPARROW. 



265 



This species builds in old trees or walls, and its 

 nest is made of dry grass, lined with feathers. 

 Its eggs arc from four to six in number, of a dull 

 white colour, speckled with light grey brown. It 

 is not a common bird in Britain, but is scattered 

 over the colder parts of Asia and Europe. When 

 hopping on the ground it may be easily known 

 from tlie common sparrow, by its different gait, 

 its legs being much shorter than those of that 

 species. When it alights on a spot, it will keep 

 perpetually moving the tail, lowering and raising 

 it, and fluttering restlessly. 



