THE HOUSE SPABEOW. 



Passer domesticus. SELBY, BOOTH. 

 Fringilla domestica. LINNAEUS. 



ITHOUT doubt this bird is 

 better known than any other 

 in the world; for there are 

 few countries from which the 

 Sparrow is absent. Equally 

 plentiful in the cities of the 

 East and those of the Euro- 

 pean Continent, the towns of 

 England would lose one of their 

 most public characters if the 

 Sparrow were eliminated from 

 the streets. 



This bird is thoroughly re- 

 publican in its nature, consider- 

 ing itself to have an equal 

 right of existence with other 

 members of the creation. In- 

 tensely self-reliant, the Sparrow 

 contrives to exist under even 

 the most exceptional circum- 

 stances, and, though ordinarily 

 well-behaved, can at times 

 show himself a most pugna- 

 cious fellow, and when op- 

 pressed will valiantly assail 



