76 FRINGILL1D.E. 



INSESSORES. FRINGILLIDjE. 



C0N1R0STRES. 



PLATE CV. 



TREE OR MOUNTAIN SPARROW- 



PASSER MONTANUS. (Ray.) 



The Tree Sparrow is a handsomer bird than the common 

 house sparrow, its generic companion. In habits, locality, 

 and mode of nidification, it differs also greatly, as well as in 

 some minor particulars. 



The Tree Sparrow is indigenous in most countries of 

 Europe, from the Mediterranean to Norway, but does not 

 pass much beyond the 66th degree of north latitude. It 

 extends over great part of Asia, being common in Siberia, 

 Japan, and some of the mountainous parts of India. 



This bird is an inhabitant of wooded and forest tracts, 

 more than of open and cultivated districts, and is more fre- 

 quently found in mountainous countries than the common 

 species. They appear to be partially distributed, and more 

 or less migratory in their habits, being found in some coun- 

 tries in large flocks, which appear at irregular times., probably 

 influenced by the greater or less supply of food they may 

 chance to meet with. Their usual haunts are the neigh- 

 bourhood of old decayed trees, on the outskirts of woods. 

 Such localities are particularly resorted to in spring, on ac- 

 count of the facilities they afford for nesting-places, which are 

 usually chosen in old hollow trees. Unlike the common 

 sparrow, this species seldom frequents towns or villages ; the 



