Class II. SPARROW FINCH. 457 



the head and whole upper part are brown, only 

 on the back are a few black spots ; the black 

 and white marks on the wings are obscure ; the 

 lower side of the body is a dirty white. "'^"^, 



Sparrows are proverbially salacious; they 

 breed early in the spring, make their nests 

 under the eaves of houses, in holes of walls, 

 and very often in the nests of the martin, after 

 expelling the owner. Linnceus tells us (a tale 

 from Albertus Magnus) that this insult does 

 not pass unrevenged ; the injured martin assem- 

 bles its companions, who assist in plaistering 

 up the entrance with dirt ; then fly away, twit- 

 tering in triumph, and leave the invader to 

 perish miserably. They will often breed in 

 plumb-trees and apple-trees, in old rooks' 

 nests, and in the forks of boughs beneath 



them. 



'- - -*■ - -■ 

 They remain in Italy the whole year, and 



breed thrice. 



