*54 BRITISH BIRDS* 
THE HOUSE SPARROW. 
( Fringilla domeJlica> Lin.-— Le Moineau franc . Buff.) 
The length of this bird is five inches and three 
quarters : The bill is dufky ; eyes hazel ; the top 
of the head and back part of the neck are afli co- 
lour ; the throat, fore part of the neck, and fpace 
round the eyes, black ; the cheeks are whitiih ; the 
foreaft and all the under parts are of a pale alh co- 
lour ; the back, fcapulars, and wing coverts are of 
a reddifh brown, mixed with black — the latter is 
tipped with white, forming a light bar acrofs the 
wing ; the quills are dulky, with reddilh edges ; 
the tail is brown, edged with grey, and a little for- 
ked ; the legs are pale brown. The female is dif- 
tinguilhed from the male in wanting the black 
patch on the throat, and in having a light ftreak 
