355 

 YORKSHIRE NOTES ON THE TREE SPARROW. 



JAMES UACKHOUSE, F.Z.S., iM.B.O.U., 

 Hon. Curator in Orttitlwlogy to the York Miisiuiii. 



A PROPOS of the various papers on the Tree Sparrow {Passer //io?itamis) 

 in your recent issues, it may be of interest to add a icw of my own 

 ■ol)servations near to York. 



Not far away may be seen a very extensive colony of these little- 

 moticed birds, on the farm of my friend Mr. John Harrison, at 

 AVilstrop Hall. The majority of the nests built there are in holes in 

 walls, specially prepared for them (or for more uncommon species) 

 to breed in, and in some seasons scores of pairs bring up their 

 young successfully in such positions. A few build in holes in straw 

 or bean stacks also, but these seem to be decidedly in the minority 

 when wall-nesting holes are available. 



The eggs are mostly laid between the middle of May and the 

 end of June, but some lay as late as the beginning of August even, 

 at Wilstrop ; and on an early date in May of the present year, 

 though many nests were ready, the writer found only three or four 

 eggs altogether. An average clutch of Tree Sparrow's eggs are 

 darker collectively than those of P. do/iics/ia/s, but in most cases 

 there will be found at least one light-coloured egg in striking contrast 

 to the rest. In size, a pretty large series of eggs from Wilstrop or 

 elsewhere in Yorkshire, appear decidedly less than typical eggs of the 

 commoner bird. The full clutch is usually five or six. The nests 

 of P. niontaiius are, as a rule, less bulky and untidy, and the bird 

 itself is smarter, more slenderly built, and less obtrusive. 



Although no instance has come under my notice of the inter- 

 breeding of the two species, it seems likely that it should be so, 

 notwithstanding some slight difference in their usual modes of 

 nesting. Common Sparrows are frequently discovered nesting in 

 adjoining holes to those inhabited by the Tree Sparrow; and 

 Mr. Saunders, in his 'Manual of British Birds,' says— 'In captivity 

 this species has bred with the House Sparrow.' The fact that the 

 sexes of P. montanus are almost identical in appearance adds con- 

 siderable interest to the study of the species, and might be an aid 

 in making observations upon the interbreeding of the two birds. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The Rev. H. A. Macpherson inquires whether Sir Richard Owen has pubhshed 

 any account of the animal remains of the Hniestone cave at Arnside, originally 

 discovered by Ruthven. It appears that the late Dr. Gough alludes to the bones 

 having been sent by Mr. E. Whitwell to Prof. Owen. [Can this be the Kirkhead 

 Cave mentioned, with references, in Boyd Dawkins' ' Cave Hunting ' ?] 

 Dec. iSqo. 



