196 BIRDS OF BERMUDA. 
Hab.—Arctic America and Greenland, and corresponding latitudes in 
the Old World; irregularly southward in winter in the United States 
to about 35° in roving flocks. (Coues.) 
This is a pretty constant visitor, seldom failing to make its appear- 
ance, in large or small numbers, in December or January. They were 
particularly numerous in 1850. Iam credibly informed that of late years 
they have been seen in considerable numbers feeding on the parade 
ground and round about the stables, like sparrows, at Prospect Camp. 
One was seen there in December, 1874. Three, of which I procured one, 
frequented the Walsingham end of the Causeway in January, 1875. 
Others were seen at St. George’s and elsewhere about the same time. 
This bird has not appeared in spring. 
Genus PASSER, Briss. 
44, Passer domesticus, Deg. & Gerbe. European House Sparrow. 
Fringilla domestica, Linn. 
Pyrgita domestica, Cuv. 
Passer domesticus, Deg. & Gerbe, and European authors generally. 
Length, 6.00; wing, 2.85; tail, 2.50. 
Hab.—Europe; Asia; North Africa; Madeira. 
Some few years ago a number of these birds were imported from New 
York (where they are now numerous), and turned out at St. George’s; 
but many of them subsequently disappeared, probably victims to the 
cats which swarm in all parts of the islands. The remainder, however, 
appear to be flourishing, and in the spring of 1875 there were several 
nests in the new barracks above the town. A second importation, from 
New York also, took place in September, 1874, about fifty birds being 
liberated in the vicinity of Hamilton. These soon scattered in all di- 
rections, but about a dozen took up their quarters in the garden of the 
court-house at Hamilton, and could be seen there daily during the win- 
ter following. I have no doubt they will increase and multiply after 
their manner, and in time become as much a nuisance as they are now 
a curiosity. I certainly question the propriety of introducing these 
quarrelsome birds (for the sake of the war they wage on the insect tribe 
during the breeding season only) into the aristocratic society of the Blue 
and Red Birds, which they will infallibly drive,in course of time, out 
of the town gardens and inclosures altogether. 
Nove.—I may here mention that I observed a single specimen of the 
European Goldfinch, Carduelis elegans, near Harrington Sound, in April, 
1875; it was very wild, and I could not get near it, but I imagine it 
