HOUSE SPARROW. 
295 
there is deposited an immense mass of feathers. 
Bushes in the vicinity are also fixed upon, and 
we once knew a party breeding regularly on some 
tall Scotch firs that stood near a cottage, and 
from want of early thinning, exhibited long bare 
stems, with a close tufted head, which was chosen 
for the retreat of these active birds. The nests, 
when built thus exposed, are composed of hay, 
straw, or grass collected, and form a large irre- 
gular heap when one or two are placed together, 
little inferior in size to the nest of a Magpie. 
The entrance is generally at one side, and the 
centre is abundantly lined with feathers. In ' a 
rookery, we have frequently seen the nest of the 
crows serving for a cover ; or if the mass had 
been of some years standing, holes were formed 
in it, and used as those in the eaves of houses. 
The distribution of the House Sparrow has 
been accounted very extensive. Over Europe it 
is very generally spread, being less frequent, 
perhaps, in the south. It extends to Northern 
Africa, and it is reputed to be found in several 
parts of India, both on the plains and Himalaya 
range. Some years since, Mr Selby and myself 
described an Indian Sparrow as distinct, though 
very closely allied ; and it may be possible that 
this bird may have been considered as that of 
Europe by some of those who have mentioned its 
occurrence on the Asiatic continent. We subjoin 
the distinctions which we at the time thought 
existed between the bird of India and our own, 
so that a comparison can be made. 
