136 



CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. 



exclamations of disgust and annoyance take the place of laughter and gay conversation, and the 

 sehoritas, as they hurry from a spot suddenly become so dangerous to their elegant toilettes and rich 

 mantles, are by no means sparing in their invectives against a torment that compels them to forego all 

 the delights of a summer evening's walk with their cavaliers, whose complaints against the authors 

 of the mischief are at any rate equal to their own. For this reason, the pajaro palmero, as it is called, 

 is pursued with great eagerness, and every attempt made to drive it from the locality. Frequently in 

 the twilight boys are sent up into the trees with lanterns to catch the birds whilst blinded by the 



THE TREE sparrow (Passer montanus), AND THE HOUSE sparrow (Passer domesticus). 



sudden light, and numbers are thus brought to expiate their crimes in the frying-pan, for their flesh is 

 much esteemed. But little, however, can really be done to dislodge them during the summer ; it is 

 only in autumn, when the leaves have fallen, and the Alameda possesses no more attraction for their 

 enemies than it does for them, that they condescend to seek a home elsewhere. The same author 

 tells us that he has frequently seen these birds caged in the Canary Isles, but though quite tame, they 

 did not appear to thrive, owing, he imagines, to a lack of insect nourishment. 



THE FIELD OR TREE SPARROW. 



The Field or Tree Sparrow {Passer montanus) is met with in the middle and northern parts of 



Europe. It is a small bird, of five and a half inches long and seven and three-quarter inches across 



the wings, much resembling the Common Sparrow in colour, but easily distinguishable from it. The 



upper part of the head and neck are reddish brown, the mantle rusty grey, and the bridles, throat, and 



