TREE, OR MOUNTAIN SPARROW. 297 
exception that old pollard trees are frequently 
resorted to, in the holes and crevices of which 
the nests are concealed, and the bird seems par- 
tial to a low-lying country where these abound. 
Thus we have observed it plentiful in many parts 
of Holland, frequenting trees of the description 
alluded to, and some of the low-lying counties of 
England also possess it. The Tree Sparrow is 
not nearly so equally distributed as our common 
bird ; it spreads, nevertheless, over the most of 
Europe, but the localities where it is wanting, or 
is most abundant, have not been pointed out 
with sufficient accuracy. In Britain it seems 
confined to England. Mr Thompson makes no 
mention of it in his Irish notes, and we have 
never observed it, and have no note of its occur- 
rence, in Scotland ; its most northern locality in 
our islands being the vicinity of Newcastle, 
where, Mr Selby states, several instances of its 
capture have been communicated. Out of Europe 
the Himalaya range and China are recorded on 
the authority of Mr Gould ; Japan upon that of 
M. Temminck. 
Male, with the crown of the head and nape, 
deep chestnut brown, of an opaque shade ; space 
between the bill and the eyes, spot below' the 
auriculars, chin and throat, black ; auriculars, and 
sides of the neck, white, the latter extending 
nearly to the back of the head. Upper part of 
the back appearing spotted with reddish brown 
and blackish brown, from each feather exhibiting 
these colours in nearly equal proportions. The 
