CHAPTER X 



A PUZZLE IN BIRDS 



{Finches, Sparrows, etc.) 



THIS family of bird species, called by naturalists 

 Fringillidse, or finch-like birds, comes the 

 nearest to "flooring" Ned of anything in bird 

 study. Not only is it the largest group among our 

 Nortli American birds, including about one-seventh 

 of all our species, but many of these species look so 

 much alike, especially as one usually sees them afield 

 — skulking in grass or thick foliage, and shy in the 

 bargain — that it is a very diflficult matter to identify 

 them. Try it, for instance, in the autumn, along the 

 country road, where swarms of little brownish birds 

 are constantly flitting on ahead of you and diving out 

 of sight into the grass or bushes. They are sparrows, 

 you say. Yes, but what kind? I can think of at least 

 a dozen species which may be represented in that one 

 flock. x\fter studying them more or less all my life, I 

 have to confess that very, very many times I am unable 

 to identify these restless, nervous, timid, nondescript, 

 elusive little rascals in the fleeting glimpse at them 

 which they allow. I tell Ned not to get discouraged, 



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