PASSER DOMESTICUS. 
EUROPEAN HOUSE SPARROW. 
FRINGILLA DOMESTICA. Linn. Sjst. Nat., tom. I., p. 323. 
PYRGITA DOMESTICA. Cuv. Reg. Anim., 2d edit., tom. I., p. 439. 
PASSER DOMESTICUS. Ray. Syn., p. 36. — Meyer. Brit. Birds., Yol. III., p. 69. — Gould. B. of Gt. Brit., Part IY. 
This familiar little bird, generally distributed throughout Great Britain and Europe, is also found in Algeria, Egypt, Asia and Persia. 
Within the last few years it has also become a naturalized citizen of the United States, and is seen in considerable numbers in some 
of our large sea-board cities, where it has been the means of freeing the trees from those pests the inch-worm, ( Ennomos subsignaria,) 
which destroyed the foliage, and by their habit of hanging from the branches in myriads, and attaching themselves to the dresses of 
those passing by, rendered the streets anything but pleasant. 
This sparrow is a fearless, indeed an impudent little fellow, and evidently considers himself to be on very intimate terms with 
every one about him, and does not hesitate to avail himself of any favorable spot upon the dwelling-house to place his nest ; where, 
totally uuconcerned with whatever may be occurring in his vicinity, he, with his energetic mate, bring up their chattering brood. 
Jersey City was the first residence of this little foreigner in the western world, and for several years I saw them in the streets 
picking up seeds and crumbs, or clustering in the winter around the little houses, thatched with straw, which had been placed in the 
trees for their protection. They rapidly increased, and as they throve, the worms decreased in number, until, at the present time, in 
the particular location in which I usually saw them, but few of these pests are found. 
The House Sparrow feeds upon seeds, grain, worms, insects, larvae, &c., and is consequently prying into every crevice in search of 
any creeping thing which may have hidden itself therein. Mr. Gould mentions some instances in his article on this species iu the 
Birds of Great Britain, which show the daring effrontery of this bird. “It is not a little amusing to watch closely the ways and 
doings of our constant attendant, the Sparrow, wdio as if presuming upon our friendship, sets no bounds to his impudence towards his 
feathered brethren, and with great effrontery frequently seizes upon the hole selected by the Starling wherein to form its nest, and 
continues to hold possession until the Starling, losing all patience, takes him by the neck, and with main force draws him from the 
hole. This little altercation ended, and the stronger bird in possession, matters grow more amicably. It not uufrequently happens 
that the fairy Martin, which constructs her mud nest under the eaves of our houses, has scarcely finished her labors ere the sparrow 
seizes on the building. The Martin is said to revenge itself upon the intruder in a curious way. To fight so powerful a bird would 
answer no end, she therefore plasters up the entrance to the nest with mud, and thus keeps him a prisoner.” 
It is only very lately (August, 1868) that as I was passing an undertaker’s shop in Jersey City, I saw one of these birds hopping 
about iu the glass window, which had been left open, inspecting in every way the caskets which were on exhibition. 
The nest of the Sparrow, when built among the branches in the natural way, is an enormous structure, composed of grasses firmly wound 
together, and lined with feathers, &c. The eggs, about six in number, are white spotted with dark brown. In this city (New York) the 
Sparrow appears to congregate in the greatest numbers in Union and Madison Squares, where houses have been placed for their accom- 
modation upon high poles, and baths scattered over the grounds, where at almost any time during the day, the little fellows can be 
seen plunging into the water, and splashing about until thoroughly wet, when they betake themselves to the neighboring trees to dry 
In the spring the male is very active and fussy, flying about the female and strutting around her with drooping wings even in the centre 
of the streets. The young, as soon as fledged, are in the habit of sitting around the door, or on the roof of their little houses, where 
the parents feed them. 
The male has the upper part of the head and the nape slate-color. Lores, chin, throat and upper part of breast black. Ear- 
coverts grayish white. A broad band of chestnut extends over the eye. Back and scapulars deep chestnut, with a black central streak. 
Lesser wing-coverts chestnut, tipped with white, forming a bar. Primaries and Secondaries black, edged with chestnut. Upper tail- 
coverts gray. Tail-feathers blackish brown, edged with light brown. Entire under parts cinereous gray. Bill black. Feet and Tarsi 
light brown. 
The female differs from the male by having the crown and upper parts light brown, each feather on the back with a central 
dusky streak. Entire under parts yellowish brown ; no black upon head or throat. 
The figures are life-size. The branch is the wild cherry (Cerasis Yirginiana) in blossom. 
