SPA 
bf LinnJEiis. This bird is about the fize of the 
red-breaft, or tit-lark : the beak is longifh, (len- 
der, and black ; the head is of a deep brown hue 
mixed with afh colour ; and the cheeks are marked 
with oblong fpots of dirty white. The back and 
coverts of the wings are duflcy, edged with red- 
difh brown; the quill -feathers and the tail are 
alio duiky ; the rump is brown, tinged with green ; 
the throat and breaft are of a dull afh-colour ; the 
belly is of a dirty white; the fides, thighs, and 
vent-feathers, are of a pale tawny brown and the 
legs are of a dull flefh-colour. 
This bird frequents low hedges, particularly 
thofe of gardens; making it*s neft in fome fmall 
bulh, where it lays four or five eggs of a fine pale 
blue colour; and, during the feafon of incuba- 
tion, it has a remarkable flirt with it's wings. The 
male utters a fhort, but very fweet plaintive note, 
which it begins about the commencement of the 
firft frofty mornings, and continues till the me- 
lody of the returning fpring drowns it's voice. 
The bird which L.innjEus defcribes under the 
appellation of motacilla curruca, and fuppofcs to 
be fynonymous with our Hedge-Sparrow, differs 
from this both in colour and plumage. 
Sparrow, Reed; the Emberiza Schoeniculus 
of Linnseus. This Sparrow generally frequents 
reedy and marfhy places; and is fometimes deno- 
minated junco. It's neft is curioufly contrived, 
being faftened to four reeds, and fufpended by 
them, like a hammock, about three feet above 
the water. It lays four or five eggs of a blueifli 
white colour, irregularly marked with purplilh 
veins. 
This bird is much admired for it's fong; and, 
like the nightingale, pipes in the night-time. 
The head, chin, and throat of the male, are black ; 
the tongue is livid; and at each angle of the 
mouth a white ring commences, which encircles 
the head. At the approach of winter, the head 
changes to hoary; but, on the return of fpring, re- 
fumes it's jetty colour. The whole under- fide of 
the body is white; the back, coverts of the wings, 
and fcapulars, are black, deeply bordered with 
red; the two middle feathers of the tail are of the 
fame colour; the three fucceeding ones are black; 
the exterior web, and part of the exterior of the 
extreme feather, are white. The head of the fe- 
male is ruft-coloured, fpotted with black: Ihe 
wants the white ring round the neck; but, in 
other refpefls, almoft entirely refembles the male. 
Sparrow, Lesser Reed, Willow-Lark, or 
Sedge-Bird ; the Motacilla Salicaria of Lin- 
nsus. This bird is of a flender, elegant figure: 
the head is brown, marked v/ith dufky ftreaks; 
over each eye there is a line of pure white; and 
above that another of black. The cheeks are 
brown; the throat, breaft, and belly, are white, 
the two laft tinged with yellow; the hind part of 
the neck and the back are of a reddifli brown hue ; 
the back is fpotted with black; the coverts of the 
tail are tawny, thofe of the wings duHvy, edged 
with pale brov/n; the quill-feathers are dufky; 
the tail is brown, and cuneiform, making a circle 
when fpread; and the legs are duflcy. 
This bird frequents low wet grounds; fits on 
the top of fome fpray, with it's wings difhevel- 
led; while it emits a loud, querulous, and harfti 
fong, confifting of no more than two notes. 
Sparrov/, Water ; the PalTer Aquaticus. A 
bird defcribed by Nieremberg; which, according 
to that author, fings the whole day without inter- 
Spa 
miflion, but with no very pleafing note: it 1f^' 
however, much valued for the delicacy of it's 
flefh. It lives amongft fedges and buflies. In 
fize and fiiape, it refembles tlie fv/allow; but it's 
colours are very different. The bill is black; 
the legs are yellovi^ ; the breaft and bellv are white; 
and the back is of a browniili yellow colour, va- 
riegated vvith black and white fpots. 
Sparrow of Paradise; the Loxia Erythro- 
cephala of Linnaeus. This bird has a thick and 
ftrong bill, like the reft of the loxia kind; it's co- 
lour is whitifh ; and the noftrils are hid in the plu- 
mage of the forehead. The eyes are of a dark 
colour; and the whole head is covered vv-ith f:ar- 
let feathers. The upper fide of the neck, back, 
and rump, and the upper fides of the wings and 
tail, are of a darkifh blue afh-colour. The quills, 
and the firft and fecond rows of the coverts of the 
wings, the tail-feathers, and it's coverts, arc all 
tipt with white, or light afh coiour. The breaft 
and belly are variegated with black and white, 
not unlike the fcales of a fifh, but more broken 
and confufed. The fides of the belly are inter- 
fperfed Vv'ith a tinfture of reddifh brown ; and thd 
thighs, lower belly, and coverts under the tail, 
are white; but the legs, feet, and claws, are flefh- 
coloured. 
This curious bird is a native of Angola, on 
the coaft" of Africa. 
Sparrow, Hedge, American. This bird, 
which inhabits Jamaica, is about five inches in 
length. It has a pretty ftrong bill, fliarp-pointed, 
incurvated, and black. The head and neck are 
afh-coloured, a little inclining to green; and the 
back, wings, and tail, are brown. The breaft, 
belly, and thighs, are white, clouded with duflcy j 
and the legs are brown. 
Sparrow, Solitary; the Turdus Cyantis of 
LinnsEUS. This beautiful bird is a native of the 
fouthern parts of Europe. In fize, fliape, and 
proportion, it refembles the blackbird: the bill is 
ftraight, the upper mandible bending a littledown- 
wards at the point, and of a black colour both 
above and beneath; the eyes are of a dark hazel 
colour; and the eye-lids are yellowifli. The 
plumage of the whole bird, except the quills and 
tail, are of a full blue colour, darker on the back, 
and lighter on the breaft; the feathers on the 
breaft and belly being tranfverfely barred with a 
lighter colour. The quills and .tail-feathers are 
of a dufl<;y brown hue, except that there is a fmall 
portion of blue on their exterior webs. The legs, 
feet, and claws, are black. 
Sparrow, Chinese, Cock ; the Loxia Malacca 
of LinnjEus. This bird is fomewhat lefs than 
the common Houfe-Sparrow; and has a ftiort, 
thick, afh-coloured neck. The head, neck, breaft, 
and belly of the cock, are quite black; but the 
reft of the body, wings, and tail, are of a rufty 
brown colour. The upper parts of the body of 
the hen are more brown and dufky; the lower 
part of the breaft inclines to a hare colour, with 
beautiful regular black and v/hite fpots on the 
fides of the belly and under the wings ; and the 
legs and feet are of the fame bright colour, inclin- 
ing to yellow. 
Sparrow, Indian, Yellow-Headed ; the 
Loxia Bengalenfis. The bill is of a light or 
whitifh colour, and of a thick and ftrong make; 
the top of the head is of a yellow or golden co- 
lour; the neck, back, wings, and tail, are of a 
dark brown or dufky colour, the plumage being 
bordered 
