FRIXGTLLID.E— THE FINCHES. 575 



Female smaller, and tlie colors ratlier duller. Immature and winter 

 specimens liave the white cliin-j)atch less abruptly defined, the white 

 markings on tlie top and sides of the head tinged with brown. Some 

 specimens, apparently mature, sliow quite distinct streaks on the breast and 

 sides of tliroat and body. 



Habits. The White-tliroatod Sparrow is, at certain seasons, an abundant 

 bird in nil ])arts of Nortli America, from tlie Great Plains to tlie Atlantic, 

 and from Geovoia to the extreme Arctic regions. A few breed in favorable 

 situations in Massaclmsetts, especially in the extreme northwestern part of 

 the State. It breeds abimdantly in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, 

 and in all the British Provinces. 



Sir Jolin Eichardson states tliat they reach the Saskatchewan in the mid- 

 dle of May, and spread throughout tlie fur countries, as far, at least, as the 

 66th parallel, to breed. He states that he saw a female sitting on seven 

 eggs near the Cumberland House, as early as June -4. The nest was placed 

 under a fallen tree, was made of grass, lined with deer's hair and a few 

 feathers. Another, found at Great Bear's Lake, was lined witli the sdw of 

 tlie Bri/um vliginosvm. He describes the eggs as of a pale rnountain-green, 

 thickly marbled with reddish-lirown. When the female w^as disturbed, she 

 ran silently off in a crouching manner, like a Lark. He describes the note 

 C)f this bird as a clear song of two or three notes, uttered very distinctly, l)ut 

 without variety, — a very incomplete description. 



Mr. Kennicott states that this species does not extend its migrations as 

 far to the north as Z. gamheli, and is even much less numerous on tlie south 

 shores of the Slave Lake, where he did not observe half so many of this as 

 of the other. It also nests later, as he found the first nest obser\'ed on the 

 22d of June, with the eggs quite fresh, incubation not having commenced, 

 and found others after that date. On Engli.sh Biver he found two nests with 

 eggs on the 9th and 17th of July, and one near the Cumberland House on 

 the 30th of June. Two of these were in low swampy ground among large 

 trees, the other on hioh oround among small bushes. They were constructed 

 on large bases of moss, and lined with soft grasses. When startled from 

 her nest, the female always crept silently away through the grass. 



He met with this species in considerable flocks, accompanied by small 

 numbers of Z. hvwplirys, on the north shore of Lake Superior, on the 11th of 

 May. He saw individuals on the 29th of May, near the Lake of the Woods, 

 and it doubtless breeds as far south as that region. In the fall it was not 

 seen at Foi't Simpson later than the last of September. As it is a much 

 more eastern bird tlian Z. (javxhdi, it is probalJy in greater abundance on the 

 eastern end of Slave Lake. Its song he regards as by no means so attractive 

 as that of Z. (jarnhdi or of Z. lairoplirjix. Its general habits are very nuich 

 like thnse of the former, and though by no means a strictly terrestrial bird, 

 it rarely perches high on trees, and generally flies near the ground, except 

 in its long migratory flights. 



