SPANISH SPARROW. 53 



Leitli Adams informs me that it is the commonest bird in the island 

 of Malta, and breeds in the walls of the forts and houses. Dr. Adams 

 also mentions having shot and seen it in confinement with a yellowish 

 black bill, and lighter tinge of plumage, but in no way distinct. It 

 is also said in Malta to breed with P. cisalpma, and that a hybrid 

 is produced, but Dr. Adams has not been able to confirm this state- 

 ment. Dr. Adams further adds, "I have seen specimens in collections 

 made in the "Western or Trans-Indus portion of the Punjaub, where 

 it is known by the name of 'Cabool Sparrow.' I do not think it is 

 found further eastward." 



Salvadori (Fauna d'ltalia) says, " This species is very common in 

 Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, and, according to Savi, also in Corsica. It 

 is not impossible that it may be found in the extreme southern part 

 of Italy, as it can easily cross over from Sicily, but I have not 

 succeeded in being quite certain of it. In Malta, according to 

 Wright, it is found in company with P. Italice, which is there a 

 common species; and he does not think the two really distinct, and 

 refers to the authority of Jardine, which appears to me incomprehensible, 

 it never having occurred to me to confound the P. salicicohis of 

 Sardinia with P. Italice. I think that in Malta no other species 

 exists except salicicolus, as in Sardinia and Sicily, and that Wright's 

 individuals, showing the passage from one into the other, are pro- 

 bably only the perfectly adult P. salicicolus, whilst Doderlein aflSrms 

 that all the individuals in Sicily called P. Italice are the adult 

 salicicolus. It has the same habits as P. Italice.''^ 



Doderlein says of this bird: — "This species or race is indigenous 

 in the southern countries of Europe, and is characterized by its 

 maroon colour, and the black spots on its sides — the wing fascia 

 blackish white. It represents the preceding siDCcies, F. italice, in 

 the greater part, if not the whole of Sicily. It is not common at 

 Palermo, where it is a good deal shot down. It is very rare in 

 Modena, nevertheless there are localities where it is plentiful. Its 

 habits are similar to those of the preceding. It builds in the 

 crevices of mountain rocks, as well as trees, etc. It is not so easily 

 domesticated as P. italicB.'''' 



It seems very common in Africa. Captain Loche met with it in 

 the three provinces of Algeria. Mr. Tristram has recorded it as 

 abundant in Northern, and Mr. Salvin in Eastern Africa. — ("Ibis," 

 vol. i.) Mr. Tristram also includes it in his list of the birds of 

 Palestine, and Mr. E. C. Taylor says that it is abundant in Egypt, 

 frequenting the open country in large flocks, and roosting in trees. 



I shall take the liberty of quoting Mr. Tristram's and Mr. Salvin^s 



