FINCHES, SPARROWS 



W If' 



(***) Passer domesticus 



{Linn.) (Lat., a sparrow; domestic). 



ENGLISH SPARROW; HOUSE 

 SPARROW. Ad. & — Plumage as 

 shown by the bird in the foreground; 

 face and throat black; auriculars 

 chestnut. 9 — A very dull plum- 

 aged bird; dusky above, indistinctly 

 streaked, and below dirty whitish. 

 L., 6.2s; W., 3.00; T., 2.2s; B., .48. 

 Nest — In holes in trees, in crevices 

 about buildings, behind blinds, or in 

 crotches of trees; in any case, an 

 unsightly mass of straw, string, paper, 

 rags, and other refuse; five to seven 

 whitish eggs, profusely specked, 

 spotted and scratched with brown 

 and black, .80 x .55. 



Range — Introduced in New York 

 about 1850. Now very abundant 

 in cities and villages everywhere. 



female and all the young will be in dull plumages, while 

 only the male will be clad in rosy-red. Consequently only 

 one red bird in six should be seen, and this is about the 

 proportion in which they are found. In winter they are quite 

 silent, but utter melodious, piping whistles as they fly. In 

 spring and summer they have a beautiful song of mellow 

 whistles and warbles, uttered in a subdued tone. 



PURPLE FINCHES, according to present standards of 

 color, are misnamed, for the plumage of males is a rosy-red, 

 but it is said to be the color that was known in ancient times 

 as royal purple. They are excellent songsters, because of 

 which, before the laws strictly prohibited, many of them 

 were trapped and kept in confinement. 



Purple Finches are not uncommon in the Northern States 

 both during winter and summer. In the latter season they 

 consume a great many insects and berries, while at other 

 times of the year they live chiefly upon seeds of weeds and 

 trees and upon buds. They nest in orchard trees, in thickets, 

 hedges, or evergreens. 



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