20 NOUTII AMKinCAX BIRDS. 



a whitisli maxillary stripe, bordered above and below by one of daik nifous-brown, and 

 with another from behind the eye. The under parts are white ; the jugnhnn and sides 

 of body streaked with clear dark-brown, sometimes with a rufous sufl'usion. On the 

 middle of the breast these marks are rather aggregated so as to form a spot. No distinct 

 white on tail or wings. Length of male, 6..50; wing, 2.58; tail, 3.00. Bill pale brown 

 above ; yellowish at base beneath. Legs yellowish. 

 Hab. Ea.stern United States to the high Central Plains. 



Specimens vary somewhat in liaving the streaks across the breast more or 

 less sparse, the spot more or less distinct. In autumn the colors are more 

 bleiided, the light maxillary stripe tinged with yellowish, the edges of the 

 du.sky streaks strongly suffused with brownish-rufous. 



The young bird has the upper parts paler, the streaks more distinct ; tlie 

 lines on the head scarcely appreciable. The under jjarts are yellowish ; the 

 streaks narrower and more sharply defined dark lirown. 



As already stated, this species varies more or less from tlie above descrip- 

 tion in dillerent parts of North America, its typical races having received 

 specific names, which it is necessary to retain for them as varieties. 



Habit-s. The common Song Sparrow of eastern N^orth America has an 

 extended range of distribution, and is resident throughout tlie year in a large 

 part of the area in which it breeds. It nests from about South Carolina 

 north to the British Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick at the 

 east, and to a not well-defined limit in British America. The most northern 

 points to wliich it has been traced are the plains of the Saskatchewan and 

 the southern shore of Lake Winnepeg, in which latter place Mr. Kennicott 

 found it breeding. It is said by Dr. Coues to breed in South Carolina, and 

 by Mr. Audubon in Louisiana, Imt I liave never seen any of their eggs from 

 any point south of Washington. In winter it is found from Massachusetts, 

 where only a few are oljserved, to Flijrida. It is most abundant at this 

 period in Nortli and Soutli Carolina. It is not mentioned in Dr. Ger- 

 hardt's list as being found in Northern Georgia at any season of the year. 

 Mr. Eidgway informs me that it does not breed iu Soutliern Illinois. Its 

 song is not popularly known there, though he has occasionally heard it just 

 before these Sparrows were leaving for the north. This s])ecies winters tliere 

 in company with the Z. cdhicoUis and Z. hiicophrijs, associating with the for- 

 mer, and inhabiting brush-heaps in the clearings. 



To ]\Iassachusetts, wliere specimens have been taken in every month of the 

 year, and wliere they have lieen heard to sing in January, they return in 

 large numbers usually early in March, sometimes even in February. It is 

 probable that these are but migrants, passing farther north, and that dur 

 summer visitants do not appear among us until the middle of April, or just 

 as they are about to breed. They reach Maine from the 1.5th to the I'.'ith, 

 and breed there the iniTldle of May. In Massachusetts they do not have 

 eggs until the first M'eek in JMay, except in very remarkable seasons, usually 

 not until after the Bluebird has already hatched out her first brood, and a 

 week later than the Bobiii. 



