WHITE-CROWNEB FINCH. 587 



at a considerable distance from any water. The nest is 

 composed of stalks of grass or other dry vegetable substan- 

 ces, sometimes mixed with moss and lined with fine grass, 

 frequently finished with long hair. The eggs 4 or 5, are of 

 a dull bluish-white, or purplish-brown, with numerous dark 

 colored spots and veins. 



The length of the Reed Sparrow is about 6 inches. The head, chin, 

 throat, and sometimes a great portion of the breast, black. From the 

 base of the bill commences a white ring, which grows broader be- 

 hind the ears, and encircles the head ; the breast often as well as the 

 belly white. The sides grey, marked with a few dark brown strokes. 

 Back black, the feathers widely bordered with reddish-brown, inter- 

 spersed with grey, which latter becomes more prevalent towards the 

 rump. Quills and primary coverts dusky, edged with rufous. Tail 

 black, the 2 middle feathers bordered with rufous, the two exterior 

 on each side marked obliquely with a variable proportion of white ; 

 the shafts and tips black. The female is rather less ; with the head 

 rufous-brown, streaked with dusky ; from each side the under man- 

 dible a dusky line passes under the neck, where it joins a bed of that 

 color. Behind the eye a light colored stroke, the breast streaked 

 with reddish-brown. Rump plain olive-brown. There is no white 

 ring round the head. 



WHITE-CROWNED FINCH. 



(Fringilla leucophrys, Bonap. -Synops. No. 167. Rich, and Swains. 

 North. Zool. ii. p. 255.) 



This elegant species extends its summer visits to the ex- 

 tremity of the continent ; breeding in all parts of the fur 

 countries, arriving in the middle of May, and departing 

 early in September to the northern parts of the United States 

 to pass the winter. It makes short flights and keeps much 

 on the ground, feeding on grass seeds and larvae. The 

 male sings, from a low perch a short, clear, and pleasant song. 



