21 



white on wing-coverts and primaries very distinctly. It is about 

 the size of a small Starling, but is shaped more like a Parrot 

 than one of our English Finches. I hope they have come to 

 stay." 



On 10th April, 1900, I saw another Hawfinch on one of the 

 great hollies at " West Lodge " (in days gone by, on the spot 

 now occupied by " West Lodge " stood a house called " The 

 Hollies "), and on 15th June, 1903, I saw a splendid <? at " The 

 Cedars," hammering at a hawberry under a thorn tree. On 

 going to the tree, I noticed a berry lodged in the bark, and 

 several remains on the ground. 



30. — House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus). 



At " West Lodge," these little pests are increasing to an 

 alarming extent, as they abhor the dangers of migration, and 

 decline even a trip across " The Cedars' " grounds. They delight 

 to steal the food intended for our fowls, pheasants, pigeons, 

 rabbits, and other superior creatures. Worse than this, they 

 drive away all such interesting birds as Swallows, Martins, Wag- 

 tails, Tits, Finches, &c, at least to the best of their ability. 



We grow crocuses, &c, in a haphazard sort of fashion on 

 the various lawns, but the Sparrows love plucking the leaves off 

 the flowers directly they appear, especially the yellow variety. 

 They also love to build their untidy apology for a nest in all 

 such pipes and eaves as are specially constructed to carry off 

 rain-water. These they block, and so cause an endless amount 

 of trouble and expense. They are, in fact, one of mankind's 

 most useless and expensive parasites, and are increasing all 

 over the country. On 24th June, 1903, I counted 171 on the 

 fence of our " West Lodge " tennis lawn. On their behalf I 

 must say I have frequently noticed how remarkably fussy they 

 are over their offspring, especially the cock bird. Summing 

 them up, I should say the House Sparrow runs no risks. 



31. — Tree Sparrow [Passer Montamis). 



On 13th May, 1895, I picked up an egg by "The Cedars' " 

 front door, which was being attacked by a House Sparrow ; it 

 puzzled us all ; a smudge of brown the large end, and the rest 

 white. I sent it up to the B.O.U., and they said it was a variety 

 of the Tree Sparrow, and asked me to get some more. I hunted, 

 but in vain. 



