268 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



on the neck above. The rump is immaculate. No white on the 

 tail except very obscure tips. The white 011 the wings crosses the 

 ends of the middle and greater coverts." (Hist. X. Am. B.) 



This fine sparrow is usually an abundant migrant in the north- 

 ern portions of the State, and a more or less common winter resi- 

 dent in the southern parts. At Mount Carmel it was often abundant 

 throughout the winter, frequenting, during the coldest weather, the 

 door-yards and gardens, in company with Snowbirds (Junco hyemalis), 

 Tree Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rump Warblers, 

 and other familiar species. Its clear, but rather subdued, whistling 

 song was often heard just before its departure for the north. 

 This song much resembles that of the White-throated Sparrow, but 

 is less monotonous and rather more plaintive. 



"Among the birds that tarry briefly with us in the spring on 

 their way to Canada and beyond," writes Mr. John Burroughs, in 

 Scribner's, "there is none that I behold with so much pleasure as 

 the White-crowned Sparrow. I have an eye out for him all 

 through April and the first week in May. He is the rarest and 

 most beautiful of the Sparrow kind. He is crowned as some hero 

 or victor in the games. He is usually in company with his con- 

 gener, the White-throated Sparrow, but seldom more than in the 

 proportion of one to twenty of the latter. Contrasted with this 

 bird, he looks like its more fortunate brother, upon whom some 

 special distinction has been conferred, and who is, from the egg, 

 of finer make and quality. His sparrow color, of ashen gray and 

 brown, is very clear and bright, and his form graceful. His whole 

 expression, however, culminates in a regular manner in his crown. 

 The various tints of the bird are brought to a focus here and in- 

 tensified, the lighter ones becoming white and the deeper ones 

 nearly black. There is the suggestion of a crest also, from a habit 

 this bird has of slightly elevating this part of its plumage, as if 

 to make more conspicuous its pretty markings. They are great 

 scratchers, and will often remain several minutes scratching in one 

 place like a hen. Yet, unlike the hen and like all hoppers, they 

 scratch with both feet at once, -which is by no means the best way 

 to scratch." 



