House Sparrow. 195 



birch-tree, which it selects in preference to all others for its 

 nursery. But on its return to more southern latitudes on the 

 approach of winter, the migratory flocks of this species assume 

 dimensions which seem to our unaccustomed eyes almost in- 

 credible ; for we read of columns a quarter of a mile long, and 

 fifteen yards broad ; and again of some hundred thousand 

 frequenting the foot of the Thuringerwald ; and again of six 

 hundred dozen being killed every night in Lorraine, on the ap- 

 pearance of a tiock in 1765 ; and as a climax, a flight of about 

 sixty million in Luxemburg in 1865 !* In quoting these numbers 

 I have no thought of disputing or doubting their accuracy, but I 

 would point out that living in an island, and in an inland county 

 in that island, we little know the amazing numbers in which 

 flocks of birds occasionally move. 



80. HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus). 



So well known to everybody that I need not say a word about 

 it, beyond calling attention to the extremely handsome plumage 

 of the cock-bird, which is often overlooked ; the colours, black, 

 gray, chestnut, and brown, blend with peculiar harmony; I 

 mean of course in our country specimens, for in favour of town 

 sparrows I have nothing to say, pert, ill-conditioned, dirty, and 

 grimed with soot as they are. Here, however, I would call at- 

 tention to the Sparrow Club, or the Sparrow Fund, which used to 

 exist in so many of our agricultural parishes in this county; and 

 in many of the Churchwardens' account-books may be seen, as 

 a considerable item of the Church-rate annually and for very 

 many years past, so many dozen Sparrows destroyed at so much 

 per dozen, the price varying according to the maturity or im- 

 maturity of the victims : Thus in an old Churchwarden's book, 

 belonging to my small parish, dating from above 100 years ago, I 

 see the items every year of from 20 to 90 dozen old Sparrows at 

 4 pence the dozen, and from 10 to 70 dozen young birds at 2 

 pence the dozen ; and these, with an occasional shilling for the 



* Professor Newton in fourth edition of Yarrell's ' British Birds,' vol. ii., 

 p. 77. 



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