SPAEEOWS 149 



of " Eock " Sparrow in the text-books. Mr. Ivy informs me 

 it is fairly common in the Albany District, assembling in 

 small flocks amongst the high trees aromid Grahamstown 

 during the winter months. In summer it resorts to the high 

 Bushveld where it constantly affects the branches of de- 

 caying trees. In the Pretoria Bushveld it is also common 

 at times. As already stated, the name is a misnomer, as 

 they are true arboreal birds, seldom alighting on the ground 

 except when tempted by grain, which they readily eat, 

 although principally insectivorous birds. We have so far 

 only noticed it nesting in hollow trees or posts, and have not 

 found or heard of an authentic case of a nest being found in 

 a hole in a krantz or in a wall. 



It devours a fairly large quantity of insects and weed 

 seeds, thus doing a certain amount of good to agriculture. 



The Diamond Sparrow is a drabish-brown bird with a 

 broad - greyish eyebrow, and a yellow spot on the chest 

 which is bright and distinct in some individuals, more 

 obscure and paler in others. Length, 6| inches. It lays 

 three or four grey eggs mottled with slatey-brown. 



The Gape Sparrow {Passer melanurus), or Mossie as it is 

 called by the Colonial (Dutch and English alike), is the 

 South African equivalent of the English House Sparrow. 

 Its habits are much the same, building as it does a large 

 untidy nest of grass and sticks liaed with wool, feathers, 

 twine, or indeed anything soft and warm that comes handy. 

 The nest is placed in a bush, tree, gutter or pipe, under the 

 eaves or on a rafter. It lays three or four eggs of a pale 

 greyish-green or blue colour spotted and blotched with 

 various shades of brown ; the eggs vary considerably in 

 size, shape and markings, some being almost black with the 

 profusion and darkness of the blotches, while others are 

 quite light owing to the scarcity and paleness of the mottling. 



