TREE SPARROW. 



519 



colour and marking's. The fact is, that the young-, as in the common 

 sparrow, puts forth the black marks last, and consequently in the infant 

 state of plumage it has been considered as the female. It is a much 

 more elegant species than the house sparrow, and differs from that bird 

 with respect to sexual distinction in plumage; for every one knows the 

 cock from the hen of that very common species (Passer domesticus). 

 The note of the Tree Sparrow would only be discriminated from the 

 other by persons of experience in science ; it is, however, more shrill. 

 So little do people in general know or discriminate the bounties of 

 nature with which they are surrounded, that even the best informed do 

 not know the distinction of these two species. 



It is now perfectly clear this bird resides amongst trees only, and that 

 it makes its nest in holes and cavities of such as are decayed, and never 

 amongst the branches, nor in buildings. 



*On a small estate belonging to Bethlem Hospital, close to the vil- 

 lage of Wainfleet, a few pairs of these birds had taken possession of 

 some large trees, (the only ones deserving the name for many miles 

 round,) which after having been condemned, were reprieved upon a 

 representation of their very great advantage to mariners, as a con- 

 spicuous land-mark in such a flat and featureless country. Here then 

 we expected to realize all our anticipation with respect to the natural 

 history of this species, it being the middle of May, which is the height 

 of the breeding season. We soon procured a specimen, but in vain 

 were all the trees examined for their nest ; not even the house spar- 

 row had resorted to these trees to build amongst the foliage. By con- 

 cealing ourselves near to some old and much decayed pollard-trees, to 

 which several of these birds were observed to be more than ordinarily 

 attached, we had the satisfaction of observing one of them enter a small 

 hole. No doubts now remained of the place of nidification ; and after 

 suffering the bird to remain for some time it was driven out and shot, 

 with a full expectation that it would prove a female, the other having 

 possessed all the black marks which are asserted to characterize the male 

 only. To our astonishment, however, this was exactly similar in mark- 

 ings ; and we had yet to obtain the female. 



Two others were afterwards shot on the same tree, both of which 

 corresponded exactly with those already in our possession, which occa- 

 sioned a strong suspicion that there was some mistake in the usual 

 description of the distinction of the two sexes ; and, as suspected, they 

 actually turned out to be one of each sex. 



It only now remained to enlarge the holes in the tree in order to 

 search for the nests, which; by the assistance of a chisel, was soon 



