PLATE CLV, 



kind. Sparrows wholly white occurnot very unfrequently : thofealfo 

 which are varied with white and dark brown or chefnut, or rufous, oc- 

 cur occafionally, and fometimes the Sparrow is found entirely black. 

 Among other extraordinary varieties of this bird, in our Mufeum, is 

 one in which all the fore toes are double, fo that each foot is furnifhed 

 with fix toes in front, the back toe which is fingle as.ufual on one fide, 

 is treble on the otherj except which there is no material appearance of 

 diftortion, every toe is diflin6lly formed, and armed with its proper 

 claw. We are the more explicit in detailing the circumftances of 

 this fingular bird as it prefents one of the mofl remarkable varieties of 

 the Sparrow we are acquainted with, 



'The Sparrow is proverbially a bold and familiar bird, and feems to 

 evince fo far an attachment for man that it is obferved only in fuch places 

 as are inhabited by the human race ; and it is affuredly the leaft of all 

 other birds, the fport of that cruelty and caprice this " terreftrial lord" 

 is prone to exercife over the minor race of creatures. Sparrows are 

 faid to be injurious to gardens, but wherever Sparrows have been de- 

 flroyed in any confiderable numbers, the fruits of our gardens, as the 

 corn of our fields have fuffered infinitely greater mifchief from the 

 hofls of infe6t depredators which thefe birds would have timely de- 

 ftroyed. Sparrows therefore are ufeful, and are the natural and wel- 

 come refident of the cottage, and to a certain extent may be ufeful al- 

 so in cities. Their general food confifls of infe£ls, grain, and fruits 

 of all kinds, befides which they will eat other animal food. The neil 

 is often conflrudted under the eaves, and other projections of houfes, 

 in broken walls, dry gutters, and even the tops of chiranies : The eggs 



Vol. VII. G ""of 



