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( sl ) Order, Passeres, (Linn.) The House-Sparrow. 



The FringillaDomestica, Hous e- Spar row, or Sparrow, inhabits 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, and this country, and too well known to 

 need description ; four varieties ; five and three quarter 

 inches long. Builds under the eaves of houses both thatched 

 and tiled ; sometimes in ivy, sometimes in other birds' nests ; 

 (I have seen its nest in that of a deserted magpie's,) and 

 in and near London on the Lombardy poplar. Feeds on grain 

 and insects; troublesome in gardens ; proverbially salacious; 

 breeds many times in the year; eg-gs six, whitish, dirty spotted 

 ash colour; it is a gregarious, noisy, crafty bird, and not easily 

 caught; very destructive to ripe corn; but, nevertheless, it 

 may be questioned whether, upon the whole, it be not a useful 

 bird : for more concerning it and its nest, see the Introduction, 



