FRINGILLIDAE—SPARROWS.
117
At Southminster, about 1834, Mr. W. H. Hill described it (12. viii. 573) as
"occasionally abundant." Mr. Grubb says (12. vii. 518) it was repeatedly shot at
Lexden in the winter of £833-4. Henry Doubleday, speaking of a visit he paid
to Colchester early in March, 1840, says (10) : " I saw scarcely any Tree Spar-
rows, which are generally so common near Colchester." In March, 1841, he says
(10), " I saw many Tree Sparrows near Mersea Island." Mr. Clarke notes it
(24) as " not uncommon " round Saffron Walden at the time he wrote (about
1845). There are two specimens from Saffron Walden in the Museum at that town.
Mr. Grubb includes it (39) in his list of Sudbury birds, and King says (20) it
is " not uncommon " there. Mr. Buxton says (47. 87) that it is "common about the
pollard willows near the River Roding," but does not indicate at what time of year.
Mr. Hope describes it as " not uncommon in the county." During winter, and
especially during hard weather, they are by no means uncommon here, and I have
shot them out of flocks of common Sparrows. I have also frequently taken them with
the sparrow-nets at night. They never roost with the common Sparrows in corn-
stacks or in holes in thatch, but always, so far as my observation goes, singly and
in hay-stacks. Considerable flocks have sometimes been observed off the coast
on their way hither. Yarrell (37. ii. 85) quotes cases in which, in October, 1833,
flocks numbering 100 settled on a ship bound for the Thames, as she passed the
coast of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex ; and in November, 1860, thousands boarded
a vessel between the Dogger Bank and the Galloper lightship. Dr. Laver has
shot them during the winter in both the Colchester and Paglesham districts, but
never knew them breed in either. In the latter district, however, Mr. Wiseman
informs me that it breeds in considerable numbers, and his son has frequently
taken their eggs. Round Harwich, it is " fairly common ; breeds in holes in trees,
also in trees covered with ivy at Ramsey " (Kerry). Mr. A. J. Crosfield of Rei-
gate informs me that he saw one close to Dagenham Gulf on May 23rd, 1879,
when it must have been breeding. Several specimens labelled " Frating Abbey,
April, 1875," are in the collection of the late Dr. Bree. Round Danbury, though
not common, Mr. Smoothy says it certainly breeds, as he has seen the old birds
there during summer, as well as young birds just out of the nest.
House Sparrow: Passer domesticus.
An all-too-abundant resident everywhere. It is unquestionably a
very injurious bird to the farmer, consuming a large amount of young
green wheat when in the ear, and
much fewer insects than some sen-
timentalists would have us believe.
It also drives away Martins, by
taking possession of their nests.
I consider the late Col. Russell
was more than justified in his on-
slaught upon the sparrow and that
he fully made good his case.
Varieties, generally white or pied,
frequently occur.
Lieut. Legge records (34. 32) a nest,
built during the first week in November,