THE HOUSE-SPARROW. 87 
specimen in a large pail hanging on the branch of a tree, the depth of this nest 
was at least 16-inches, and the width close upon a foot: it was too bulky to carry 
away and was hardly suitable for a collection, so I left it where it was. But the 
most marvellous Sparrow’s nest I ever saw is one in my collection obtained from 
the forking branches of a large hawthorn, at Kemsley, near Sheppy; it is roughly 
circular, saucer-shaped, and altogether has more the character of a Duck’s than a 
Sparrow’s nest; the four eggs in it also all differ, the darkest egg being similar 
in character to the most richly coloured eggs of the Tree-Sparrow, whilst the 
lightest is white with smoky grey spots and dots crowded chiefly at the larger 
end, so that it has quite a Shrike-like character. (figs. 142 & 143 are from this nest.) 
The number of eggs ranges from four to seven, but rarely exceeds six: the 
colouring both of ground-tint and marking varies more than in most birds, and as 
I have selected all the best-marked modifications for illustration on our plate, it 
would be only a waste of space to describe them; but it may perhaps be as well 
to call attention to the fact that the whitest and least boldly marked varieties are 
found in places to which light has had little access. 
In 1877 I had clear proof of the unthinking obstinacy of the Sparrow, a pair 
having built in the roller-box of a sun-blind during dull weather, the pulling down 
of the blind with the first hot day destroyed the nest; no sooner, however, was 
the blind pulled up than the Sparrows set to work and replaced it. This went , 
on so continually and repeatedly that I wrote to the late Charles Darwin, asking 
him whether he did not think it would be interesting to publish the fact, as 
evidence of the feeble reasoning powers of this species: his reply, dated May oth, 
1877, I still have, with other letters from him.—‘‘ My dear Sir, I have been 
always inclined to think that Sparrows were acute and crafty birds, but you 
certainly show that they are fools, and if they go on behaving in so idiotic a 
manner, you will do quite right to expose their conduct in some public journal !— 
Yours sincerely, Ch. Darwin.” As this unreflecting perseverance under difficulties 
continued altogether for nearly a month, I sent an account to the “ Zoologist,” 
1877, PP- 299-300. 
The House-Sparrow can hardly be said to have a song, its best performance 
being little more than a chirrup interspersed with sharp chirps, but often early 
in the morning you will hear several apparently engaged in conversation chow, chow, 
chivi, chivi, chow, chivt, to which the reply is whzt/ perhaps followed by two or 
three rapid harsh chirps: chzvz is the cry of the young for food, and the adult 
bird when caught in a trap expresses his rage by indignant chows. I never heard 
the Sparrow utter any sound like é//, but think the note which Mr. Witchell 
renders /e//, must be that which sounds to me like chow. 
