HOUSE SPARROW. 71 



in quest of insect prey. There many of their summer haunts 

 are chosen with reference to a supply of such foods. Their 

 depredations in a garden are similar to those of the chaffinch, 

 besides having- a great liking for green peas. Like the latter, 

 they destroy many insects and their larvse, but are not so 

 assiduous in their attacks upon the leaf-rolling caterpillars. 

 Turnip seed is also chosen food. In August, just when the 

 grain begins to ripen, they assemble in vast flocks, and, if not 

 carefully watched, will soon commit sad havoc on fields of 

 wheat, oats, and barley : indeed, these crops are never safe 

 from their rapacity till carried into the yard. - " 



We have also noticed the destructive propensities of Spar- 

 rows in a flower garden, especially among the gay flowers of 

 early spring, and have observed, in warm and sheltered spots, 

 which Sparrows are fond of frequenting, the borders strewed 

 with crocus blossoms, plucked by these little destroyers ; but 

 whether for the sake of honey contained within them, or 

 merely for amusement, it is difficult to say. We are inclined 

 to think the latter is the case, since their ravages are chiefly 

 confined to the most gaudy and bright coloured flowers. 

 "Our crocuses," observes a correspondent, "are in great 

 beauty, but the Sparrows are at their old tricks as usual, 

 plucking off the yellow ones ; the purple and white blossoms 

 they seem not to care for." 



This species is, as before observed, widely distributed 

 throughout Europe : it is not, however, found in every part. 

 According to Temminck it is rarely met with beyond the 

 Alps, its place being supplied in Italy by a nearly allied 

 species, the Fringilla Cisalpina. A few individuals, according 

 to that author, may be observed in Liguria and Dalmatia ; 

 but they appear as strangers among the numerous flocks of 

 the last mentioned species, and throughout the rest of Italy 

 they appear to be very rarely seen. In Corfu, our domestic 

 Sparrow is very common, and a permanent resident ; but it is 



