Scarcity of Sparrows. 
201 
•as they are still in some parts of Russia, owing probably to the same 
cause, viz. the limited state of tillage and growth of corn.” 
On this passage, Mr. Stevenson {Birds of Norfolk , I860, 
vol. i. p. 213) has the following comment :■— 
“ That the sparrow .was scarce in that part of Norfolk in those days 
is most probable, and for the cause alleged, but at the same time the 
bishop was in error in supposing that the term ‘ spowes,’ so frequently 
met with in the L’Estrange Accounts, referred to our passer domesticus. 
The term invariably occurs in connection with knots, ring-dotterels, 
redshanks, and other grallatorial species, common enough then, as 
indeed they still are, upon the Hunstanton beach, and under this name 
the whimbrell was invariably designated in these old records. Once 
only, in the same Accounts, is the word sparrouse used, as ‘ Item xij 
sparrouse of gyste,’ articles given in lieu of rent, and these, thus 
entered alone, were in all probability real sparrows, brought as a delicacy 
by some poor retainer.” 
Drayton includes the red-sparrow in his list of song¬ 
birds. Skelton, in his satirical poem. The Boke of Philip 
Sparow, arranges that— 
“ Robyn red breaste 
He shal be the priest 
The requiem mass to syng 
Lofty warbeling 
With help of the red-sparow.” 
By both these authors the reference is perhaps to the 
reed-sparrow. 
The 'Yellow -Bunting, Yellow-hammer, or, as Harrison 
■spells it, Yellow-hamer,is not often mentioned. YeUow- 
Drayton, however, calls attention to its hammer, 
song:— 
“ The yellow-pate, which though she hurt the blooming tree, 
Yet scarce hath any bird a finer pipe than she.” 
( Polyolhion , song xiii.) 
Dr. Percival Wright (.Animal Life , p. 263) says that 
the song of the yellow-hammer is not equal to its beauty, 
and attracts no human ear; whereas the note of this 
