could not see
one anywhere about the Vallon, either inside or outside the grounds. I
saw, however, one or two about the Vale, but they were very scarce. I
have not myself seen the Tree Sparrow in any of the other Islands.

It is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as occurring in
Sark only. I have not seen a specimen at Mr. Couch's, or any of the
other bird-stuffers, but there is one in the Museum and some eggs, all
of which are probably Guernsey.

65. HOUSE SPARROW. _Passer domesticus_, Linnaeus. French, "Moineau
domestique," "Grosbec moineau."--The House Sparrow is very numerous
throughout the Islands, abounding where there are any buildings
inhabited by either man, horses, or cattle. In the gardens near the town
of St. Peter's Port, in Guernsey, it is very common, and does a
considerable amount of mischief. It is, however, by no means confined to
the parts near the town, as many were nesting in some ilex trees near
the house we had on L'Ancresse Common, although the house had been empty
since the previous summer, and the garden uncultivated; so food till we
came must have been rather scarce about there. As the wheat is coming
into ear the Sparrows, as in England, leave the neighbourhood of the
town and other buildings and spread themselves generally over the
country, for the purpose of devouring the young wheat while just coming
into ear and still soft. In Alderney, owing probably in a great measure
to the absence of cottages, farm-buildings, and stables at a distance
from the town, and also perhaps owing to the absence of hedges, it is
not so numerous in the open part, and consequently not so mischievous,
being mostly confined to the town, and to the buildings about the
harbour-works. The young wheat, however, is still a temptation, and is
accordingly punished by the Sparrows.

The House Sparrow is mentioned by Professor Ansted in his list, but no
letters are given marking the general distribution over the Islands,
probably because it is so generally spread over them. The local
Guernsey-French name is "Grosbec," for which see Metivier's
'Dictionary.'

66. HAWFINCH. _Coccothraustes vulgaris_, Pallas. French, "Grosbec."--The
Hawfinch or Grosbeak, as it is occasionally called, is by no means
common in Guernsey, and I have never seen it there myself, but I have a
skin of one killed in the Catel Parish in December, 1878; and Mr.
MacCulloch informs me it occasionally visits that Island in autumn, but