28



THE FRINGILLINyC.


III.—THE YEEEOW-THROATED ROCK SPARROW.


Petronia petronella, Eicht.


By E. G. B. Meade-Waedo.


The Rock-Sparrow lias for some years been a favourite

aviary bird of mine ; although I do not fancy that it is so with

the majority of bird-keepers. I like it because it is associated

with some pleasant years spent in the Canary Islands, where

its loud sparrow-like chirp, coupled with the Poo-poo of the

Hoopoe, were the first bird-sounds heard every morning at day¬

break. The range of the Rock Sparrow extends from the

Canary Islands on the west, throughout the Mediterranean

region into India and Afghanistan. It is a bird of old buildings

and rocks, but as far as my experience goes does not frequent

towns, except in the few cases where no form of the House

Sparrow occurs. In the Canar}^ Islands this is the case, for in

those Islands where no House Sparrow is found the Rock

Sparrow is ubiquitous ; while where the Spanish Sparrow, Passer

salicicola, occurs, the Rock Sparrow frequents the mountains

only—the large and powerful Rock Sparrow giving way at once

before the other.


The Rock Sparrow is a shy bird in a wild state, feeding

always far out in the country, and only resorting to towns for

nesting and roosting. It has a very powerful and sustained

flight, as its long pointed wings, with the first and second

primaries of almost equal length, point out; and it may be seen

hurrying to feed its young with a large grub or caterpillar in its

beak in a manner that is very suggestive of a Starling on the

same errand. In “showing off” to his mate, the Rock Sparrow T

adts in much the same way as our own House Sparrow does—

hopping round with his wings half open and shivering, and his

beak pointed upwards, all the feathers on his head drawn tight,

but his bright canary-yellow throat feathers spread out like a

little fan ; he also has his tail half-spread, so as to show the

round white spot at the tip of the inner web of each tail feather.


The Rock Sparrow thrives in an open-air aviary, and

except during the breeding season is a peaceable bird ; in the

nesting time, however, he is a perfedt demon, and no small

passerine bird can exist with a breeding pair of Rock Sparrows.

All seeds are eaten, hemp and wheat, however, being the

favourites, and they are great devourers of all insects and egg

foods. A four-inch drain pipe, with one end blocked and the other



