SPANISH SPARROW.
Pyrgita Hispaniolensis, Cuz.

Le Gros-bee Espagnol.

Tue two species illustrated by the present Plate, bear, as will be seen, so close a resemblance to our common
domestic sparrow, as at first sight to be easily mistaken for that bird, and therefore require a more than
common attention to the disposition of the colouring, &c., in order to establish their differences. We have
to lament that we cannot say much respecting their habits and mamners ; as those who have had opportunities
of seeing them in their native localities appear to have noticed them so little, that the accounts are of the
most meagre description. They appear to fill up the same place in the situations they inhabit that the
common species does here, but are more inclined to resort to the barren lands and rocky districts of the
country, than to collect in the villages and towns.

Of the two species given in our Plate, the Pyrgita Hispaniolensis is the least known. Its true habitat
appears to be the southern portions of Spain, Sicily, the Archipelago, and Egypt. We have omitted to figure
the females of these two species, as they so closely resemble those of our own country as not to be distinguished
by plumage alone, without an intimate knowledge of the examples under examination.

The top and back of the head is of a bright and strong chestnut; the back and shoulders black, each
feather bordered with rufous ; the throat, fore part of the neck and chest, black ; the sides marked with long
dashes of the same colour ; belly white; line over the eye and the cheeks dirty white; beak black, and more
lengthened than in our own domestic species, or that which follows.

 

ALPINE SPARROW.
Pyrgita cisalpina, Cuv.

Le Gros-bee cisalpin.

«THe Alpine Sparrow,” says M. Temminck, ‘is only seen in the southern countries on the other side of the
great chain of the Alps and Apennines, never on the northern side of those mountains:” from these localities it
appears to extend itself along the whole of Italy and the southern countries of Europe. It differs in its habits
from our own species, inasmuch as it gives the preference to plains and open country instead of cities and
villages.

In the male, the top of the head and back of the neck are of a pure bright chestnut in summer, becoming,
after the autumn moult, of a redder tinge, every feather being then edged with rufous ; the cheeks pure white;
in other respects the colour is like that of our own bird.

The female is so like that of P. domestica that one description will apply to both, with the exception that
in the present bird the head and back of the neck are of a lighter ash-colour, and that its tints are generally
paler.

Of the nidification and eggs of the two species here figured we have been unable to obtain any information.

Our Plate represents a male of each species, and the head of the female of P. cisalpina.