362 V.IRDS OF INDIA. 



Sub-fam. Passerine, Sparrows. 



Bill stout and strong, somewhat tumid, slightly compressed 

 towards the tip; the culmen broad, convex; commissure 

 straight ; wings moderate, the first three primaries about equal, 

 the fourth nearly as long ; tail moderate, nearly square, or very 

 slightly forked ; tarsus moderate; feet formed both for hopping 

 on the ground and perching ; lateral toes about equal. 



The sparrrows comprise a small group only found in the Old 

 World, none occurring in America nor in Australia, and only 

 one species is known in Malayana. They are social in their 

 habits, and many species evince a marked predilection for the 

 neighbourhood of man, even living in the midst of crowded cities. 

 They breed either in suitable spots and nooks in buildings, or in 

 holes of trees, and occasionally on trees. Their nests are a large 

 loose mass of grass, or any soft material, usually copiously lined 

 with feathers ; and their eggs are white, speckled with dusky 

 or olive brown. They chiefly live on grain, but will also eat 

 insects, and many feed their young chiefly on the latter food. 

 Their plumage is plain, usually more or less chesnut brown above, 

 and the sexes differ in some species, but not in others. 



Gen. Passer, Brisson. 



Syn. Pyrgita, Cuv. and Swainson. 



Char. — Those of the family, of which it is the only genus. 



There are several types of form and colour among the Sparrows, 

 but none so well marked as to constitute a distinct genus. 



Two species are found throughout the greater part of India, 

 one affecting the neighbourhood of man, the other chiefly 

 confined to open forests, or well wooded districts ; and there are 

 a few other species with a limited geographical distribution in 

 India. 



706. Passer indicus, Jard. and Selby. 



111. Orn., pi. 118— Blyth, Cat. 642— Horsf., Cat. 761— P. 

 domesticus, apud Sykes, Cat, 112 — and Jerdon, Cat. 176— 

 Gouriya, H. in the North — Churi and Khas churi, H. in the South 

 — Charia or Chata, Beng. — Uri-picl'ike, Tel. — Adihi lam kuravi, 

 Tarn. 



