TKEE-SPAEKOW. 



PASSER MONT ANUS {Linn.). 



Fringilla montana, Linn. S. N. i. p. 324 (1766) ; Naum. iv. 

 p. 480. 



Passer montanus, Macg. i. p. 351 ; Hewitson, i. p. 207; Yarr. 

 ed. 4, ii. p. 82; Dresser, iii. p. 597. 



Friquet, French; Feld- Sperling, German; Gorridn serrano, 

 Gorridn de monte, Spanish. 



The Tree-Sparrow is a very local bird in England 

 and Scotland, nowhere very abundant, and in certain 

 districts entirely unknown; as a proof of this I may 

 mention that with us, in Northamptonshire, this bird 

 breeds, and is to be found in small numbers at all 

 seasons of the year ; whilst, on the other hand, in the 

 neighbourhood of Bournemouth, where I am now 

 writing, I am assured that it is, if not entirely absent, 

 at all events exceedingly rare. 



It appears, from the writings of various authors, that 

 large numbers visit the eastern counties from the con- 

 tinent every autumn. 



In its general habits this bird closely resembles our 

 Common Sparrow, but differs from that well-known 

 species in the fact that the sexes of the present bird are 

 barely distinguishable in plumage — the note also is very 

 different. - 



The Tree-Sparrow breeds indifferently in the holes of 

 trees and buildings, and in certain parts of Germany 

 frequents populous towns. The nest is a large accumu- 

 lation of rubbish and feathers, similar to that of the 

 House-Sparrow. 



