BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SPARROW. 



{Fringilla Domcstica, Linn. Gros-bcc moineau, 

 Temm.) 



THE length of this bird is five inches and three- 

 quarters: bill dusky, eyes hazel; the top of the 

 head and back part of the neck ash-grey; the 

 throat, fore part of the neck, and space round the 

 eyes black; the cheeks whitish; the breast and all 

 the under parts pale ash; the back, scapulars, and 

 wing coverts are reddish brown, mixed with black 

 the latter tipped with white, forming a light bar 

 across the wing; the quills are dusky, with reddish 

 edges; tail brown, edged with grey, and a little 

 forked; legs pale brown. The female is distin- 

 guished from the male by wanting the black patch 

 on the throat, and by having a little streak behind 

 each eye; her whole plumage is also much plainer 

 and duller. 



