48 FINCH. 



From this species frequenting only habitations, and parts ad- 

 jacent: it may be said, to be chiefly fed from human industry, 

 being as it were, domesticated ; for notwithstanding every precaution 

 it will partake with the Pigeons, Poultry, &c. in the food thrown out 

 to them; grain of all kinds being that best adapted to its taste, it 

 will, however, eat worms, and refuse of all kinds, from the kitchen. 

 Is a familiar bird, but will not so easily come into a snare as many 

 others ; in autumn often collect into flocks, and roost in numbers on 

 the adjoining trees, when they may be shot by dozens, or caught at 

 night by a bat-fowling net ; the flesh is accounted tolerable by many, 

 but far less esteemed than that of many birds. The Sparrow has no 

 song, only a chirp or two, frequently repeated, and far from agree- 

 able. It appears to be spread every where throughout Europe, is also 

 in Egypt, Senegal, Syria, and other parts of Africa, as well as Asia. 

 We have seen it represented in drawings from China, as well as 

 India, where we have been informed it is common. 



A.— Passer candid us, Bris. iii. 77. A. Id. Svo.i. 328. Will. 182. Aldrov. ii. t. p. 



566. Scop. i. 149. Mus. Carls, i. pi. 20. 

 White Sparrow, Gen. Syn. iii. 250. Id. ,SV/).163. 



The bird, described by Brisson, had the bill and irides yellow, 

 plumage wholly white. Sparrows, more or less approaching to white, 

 are to be seen in various collections, — viz. one above brown, beneath 

 dirty white : another marked as in common, very pale, with some of 

 the quills white : a third, the upper parts very pale, almost white ; 

 under parts as in common : a fourth, every where pure white, except 

 a rudiment of black on the throat, shewing it to be a male ; a fifth, 

 pure white, with a spot on the crown ; the nape of the neck, and the 

 back brown.* 



* I have had two specimens given to me in Kent perfectly white. We are told, that the 

 neighbourhood of Fanscombe Barn, near Pichandon, a valley below West Downs, (now 

 pulled down,) was famous for a breed of White Sparrows, and White Mice. See Countess of 

 Winchelsea's Misc. Poems, p. 58. "and Harris's Hist, of Kent, 344. Cough's Brit. We 

 have also observed numbers of White Mice in a Barn, near Bexley, in Kent. 



