Birds of Gran Canaria. 619 



Frififfilla canariensh is' confined to the islands of Gran 

 Canaria, Tenerife, and Goineia. 



FrhiyUla pulni'e to the islands of Hierro and Talma. 

 FringiUa madcrensis to i\radeira. 

 Fringilla tnorelcti to the Azores. 



PxVSSEU iiisPANiOLENSis. Spanish Sparrow. 



Passer hispanlolensis /dyyaniolcnsis Thanner, Orn. Jalirb. 

 xxi. p. 97 (1910). 



a,b. S <S ' Between San Mateo and Teror. 23rd Dee. '08. 



c-e. S S ^ ■ T^as Palraas. 11th Feb. '10. 



/. ? . Las Palraas. 20th Feb. '11. 



g. ?. Las Palmas. 21st Feb. '11. 



h, i. c? ? . San Mate'o (2500 ft.). 10th Feb. '12. 



k. (J. Maspalonifis VilJage. 25th Feb. '12. 



Female. Iris light brown ; bill yellowish horn-coloured ; 

 feet light brown. 



Total length in the flesh 5 '2 to 'G inehes ; expanse of 

 wings 9'3 inches. 



This Sparrow seems to be increasing in numbers every 

 year ; it is found in town and country, and huge flocks may 

 be seen on the cultivated land. In the early mornings the 

 noise which these Sparrows make in the palms and Euca- 

 lyptus-trees is enough to wake the soundest sleeper. In 

 habits they ai'e even more aggressive than P. domesiicus, and 

 have completely " ousted" the weaker Sulphur-throated 

 lloek-Sparrow from the neighbourhood of Las Palmas — at 

 any rate, so far as nesting is concerned. They have 

 absolutely no fear, and will build even inside the house if a 

 suitable grating is available for their needs. They are very 

 partial to the date-palm, and the fruit is in consequence 

 never allowed to ripen. In this tree they build their nests 

 in profusion, although they also choose the eaves of houses 

 and verandas. Building operations commence in J\Tarch, 

 and the nest is a most untidy structure, as can be imagined. 

 One which I examined on the 15tli of March (1911), built 

 inside a ventilation-grating in a much-frequented room, was 

 composed of thin twigs and grass loosely woven together. 



