30 



smaller end. The shell of this extraordinaiy egg was re- 

 markably thin and fragile in texture, so much so that it 

 broke at the first puncture in the attempt to blow it. It 

 contained but one yolk, which must have been situated 

 quite at one end. I have since much regretted not having 

 taken the dimensions of this egg. 



Passer domesticus. 



House Sparroiv, 



EGG OBSERVED. 



April 17th, 1865. 

 Aj)ril 19th, 1866 (young birds). 

 May 8th, 1867. 

 April 30th, 1868. 

 April 24th, 1869. 

 1870. 



There are but few parts of England, or in fact of the 

 world, which cannot at any rate show their Sparrows, 

 however poor they may be in other ornithological riches. 

 Marlborough is by no means without its share of them. 

 They abound in fact round every barn, building, and large 

 hedgerow, and are likely to continue common while Sparrow 

 clubs, poisoned wheat, and other branches of this short- 

 sighted policy do not make their appearance amongst us. 



They build with us just as often in trees as in buildings, 

 from which circumstance the general inhabitants of 

 Marlborough say the true tree Sparrow (P. montanus) is to 

 be found in the neighbourhood. 



