72 FBINGIIiLlD.E. 



said by Mr. Drummond, in his list of the birds of Crete, not 

 to be found in that island, although the species abounds 

 in the Ionian islands, 'where the F. Cisalpina does not 

 appear. 



The nest of the House Sparrow is generally an accumula- 

 tion of coarse and ill-assorted materials, such as dry grasses 

 and straws, combined with shreds and morsels of all descrip- 

 tions, and warmly lined with feathers, wool, and down. 

 When a hole under tiles or in thatches is chosen, which is 

 generally the case with early nests, the space is filled with 

 these materials without much apparent order. As the season 

 advances, however, many of this species betake themselves to 

 trees, especially fir trees ; under these circumstances their 

 nests are better constructed : we have a very handsome speci- 

 men of this description, built of moss, grass, and lichens, and 

 neatly lined with hair. 



The determined battles of Sparrows with house martins, for 

 the possession of their recently constructed nests, have been 

 often noticed, and it appears from a circumstance observed by 

 ourselves during the present spring, that they are able to con- 

 tend with much stronger and more formidable opponents. A pair 

 of starlings had been in the habit for some years of building 

 and rearing their young upon the top of a house in a conve- 

 nient cavitybehind some rustic ornaments. They had inhabited 

 this summer residence undisputed for years, and asusual return- 

 ed to it at the ordinary time to build their nest and make their 

 customary depredations among the cherry-trees, whose fruit 

 was beginning to swell. They were several times seen upon the 

 cherry-tree nearest to their dwelling, plucking off the green 

 leaves, and carrying them to their nesting-place. One morn- 

 ing a great bustle was observed, and the starlings were found 

 to be engaged in battle with a party of Sparrows, who 

 had, in an interval of their labours, taken possession ; the 

 starlings were finally beaten off, and the Sparrows retained 



