160 NEW- YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



THE TREE BUNTING. 



Embekiza canadensis. 



plate lxxii. fig. 1c4. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Passer canadensis, Brisson. Fringilla id. Latham. 

 Tree Sparrow. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 273. 

 F. arborea. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 123, pi. 16, fig. 3. 

 F. ( Spiza) canadensis. Bonapahte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 109. 

 E. id. Audubon, folio, pi. 188. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 1, p. 495. 



Emberiza id. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 252. Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 164. Peabody, Mass. Report, 

 p. 324. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 3, p. 83, pi. 166. Gikaud, Birds of Long island, p. 107. 



Characteristics. Crown bright bay. Stripe over the eye, sides of the neck, chin and breast 

 pale ash. Wings with two white bars. Lower mandible yellow. Length, 

 six and a half inches. 



Description. Bill short and stout, slightly notched near the tip. The second and third 

 quills slightly longer than the fourth and fifth. Tail long, emarginate and slightly rounded, 

 1 • 5 longer than the tips of the closed wings ; the feathers narrow, somewhat pointed. Hind 

 nail largest, long, incurved. 



Color. Back varied with dark rufous, grey and white. Rump olive-brown. Eye-stripe 

 short, and of a bright bay color. Chin, throat and breast ashen grey ; belly and vent white, 

 tinged with rufous. Flanks light reddish drab. A dark spot, more or less distinct, on the 

 middle of the breast. Head bright bay above. Quills dusky, edged with soiled white : two 

 white bars across the wings. Tail-feathers bordered with greyish ; the edge of the external 

 feather on each side white. Female, smaller, and its colors and markings not quite as distinct. 



Length, 6-0-6-5. Alar extent, 9-0-9*5. 



This little bunting is a northern bird, and is only seen in the Atlantic district of this State 

 during the winter. On the approach of spring, it resorts to the fur countries, where it breeds. 

 Audubon states that he has reason to believe that it breeds in Maine, and we may therefore 

 expect to find it near the northern boundary of this State. Its eggs are of a pale uniform 

 deep blue. It feeds on beetles, and hard seeds and berries. It occurs in Ohio, and has been 

 noticed in Maryland. 



