148 NEW- YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



Description. Bill short, stout ; the notch on the upper mandible scarcely apparent under 

 the lens : gape-line not extending to beneath the eyes. Third and fourth primaries longest. 

 Tail long, 1 ' 5 longer than the tips of the wings ; the lateral tail-feathers slightly curved 

 outwards. 



Color. Head, chin and throat leaden black, slightly tinged with grey or brown. Beneath 

 white. Quills with their outer webs white ; secondaries edged with brown. The two outer 

 tail-feathers on each side wholly white ; the next with a long spot of white. Female, light 

 greyish brown, without the blackish head and neck, smaller than the male ; outer tail-feathers 

 white. 



Length, 5*5 -6*5. Alar spread, 8*5 - 9" 0. 



The Snow-bird occurs in this State at all seasons of the year. It is a shy timorous bird, 

 and hence is rarely seen except during snow-storms, when it appears in flocks close to dwel- 

 lings. It is a northern species. It breeds, acording to Dr. Brewer, among the mountains in 

 Oswego county, and doubtless in other parts of the State.* It makes its nest on the ground, 

 and lays about four spherical yellowish white eggs sprinkled with reddish brown dots. It 

 breeds as far south as Virginia. It feeds on grass-seeds, berries, insects and their larvae. 



The Snow-bird migrates in the night from the north, and descends as low as the 30th 

 parallel of latitude. It has been noticed by Dr. Richardson as high as 57° north latitude, 

 where, however, it appears to be only a summer resident. It is common to America and the 

 northern parts of Europe. 



{EXTRA-LIMITAL ) 



S. oreganus. (Aud. B. of Am. Vol. 3, p. 91, pi. 168. Giraud, B. of Tex.) Back dark reddish 

 brown; wings and tail dusky ; bill reddish white; neck, head and breast black. Female: Head 

 and neck blackish grey ; sides pale reddish brown. Length, six inches. Columbia river, Texas. 



' Its nests have since been observed in the Catskill mountains, and at Greenbush opposite Albany. 



