Sparrow

Sparrow, a genus (Passer) of birds of the Finch family, with about thirty species, confined to the Old World. The bill is strong and sub-conical, with the nostrils at the base half-hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes; tail moderately long and nearly square; claws rather short and curved. The House Sparrow (P. domesticus) is common over ihe British Islands, Europe, and the north of Asia. The length is about six inches; the male has the mantle brown striped with black, the head bluish-grey, the cheeks greyish-white, the front of the neck black, and the under parts light-grey. On the wings are two narrow bands, one white and one rusty yellow. The female is more plainly clad. These birds are omnivorous; they do much damage to grain and fruit crops, but, it is a question whether they do not more than repay the damage by the vast quantities of insect larvae they kill for the purpose of feeding their young. Opinion is divided as to whether the sparrow should be reckoned among the farmer's friends or foes. Dr. Coues, the American ornithologist, regards the introduction of this bird into the United States, for the purpose of destroying harmful insects, as a mistake, and speaks of it as a pest and a curse. The Tree Sparrow (P. montanus), with a more restricted range, differs little from the Honse Sparrow except in its smaller size.