HOUSE-SPARROW. 
PASSER DOMESTICUS . 
In the appearance of the city -bred and country Sparrow there is always a striking difference ; the aspect of the 
townsman is by no means prepossessing, his worn and shabby attire, frequently black and grimy as the smoke- 
dried trees and buildings to which he resorts, contrasts but poorly with that of his country relative. The 
plumage of the latter is for the most part neat and trim, the bright colouring of his cheeks and flanks, 
as well as the warm red tints on his hack, show up conspicuously in the sunlight and render his 
appearance by no means unattractive ; the two birds if seen in company could scarcely be supposed to belong 
to one and the same species. 
From north to south the House-Sparrow is abundant and appears gradually to be extending its range in 
some parts of the Highlands. Twenty years ago I remarked the absence of these birds about the dwellings in 
several of the remotest glens ; of late years, however, a few pairs have taken up their quarters round the 
shooting-lodges or the small collections of shealings termed villages in such districts. 
Sparrows are decidedly pugnacious, frequently fighting among themselves and occasionally with other species. 
On the 27th of December, 1883, I happened to he watching a brightly plumaged old male that had settled at 
some food thrown out for the benefit of the pensioners who regularly collect on our lawn, when a couple of 
Starlings flew down and attempted to claim a share. Undaunted by the size of his assailants, the Sparrow 
resolutely defended the portion he had appropriated ; with open beak he faced his foes and successfully repulsed 
three or four attacks, the Starlings eventually drawing off and leaving the plucky little fellow in possession. 
The encounter appeared exceedingly ridiculous, the two long-legged giants (Starlings when fighting draw them- 
selves up to their greatest height) stalking cautiously round and darting from time to time at the diminutive 
Sparrow, who, crouching down on his prey with elevated and expanded tail, quietly awaited and repulsed every 
attempt to approach the food he guarded. When pressed by want these birds become exceedingly daring : the 
excessive drought early in July 1884 rendered soft food very difficult to obtain, and while the sultry weather 
lasted I repeatedly noticed one or two cock Sparrows hopping round and closely watching the actions of the 
Blackbirds while seeking for grubs or worms on the lawn ; the moment any prey was secured the Sparrows 
would dash in, and in almost every instance carry off whatever had been extracted from below the soil. A 
female Sparrow that attempted to emulate the exploits of her lord and master was assailed by an old hen Black- 
bird, and having been utterly vanquished was forced to seek safety by flight. As a rule, Sparrows take but 
little notice of a cat as she creeps stealthily round the stacks while on the watch for mice, neither do they show 
their enmity when, on maternal duties bent, she makes her way demurely across the yard towards her kittens 
concealed in the barn ; they seem, however, to detect at once the poacher who prowls along the hedgerow or 
through the plantations in quest of feathered prey. In our gardens we are able to trace accurately the course 
taken by the feline marauders when stalking through the shrubberies, by the calls and excited actions of the 
swarm of small birds in attendance. The loud “chuck chuck” of the Blackbird first attracts attention and 
