OP NEW ENGLAND. 217 



the species was almost unrecognizable by me from its notes." 

 The little Field Sparrows, however, are always charming sing- 

 ers, and no sounds are more refreshing, on a warm afternoon 

 of early summer, than those which they produce. 



XV. ZONOTRICIIIA 



(A) ALBicoLLis. White-throated Sx>arroio. ^'■Peabody-bird." 

 " White-throat." 



(A common migrant through Massachusetts, many breeding 

 in northern New England.) 



Fig. 9. White-throated Sparrow (^). 



(a). 6-7 inches long. Crown, to just below the e^'es, black, 

 with a median line and superciliary line white, the latter, how-' 

 ever, bright 3'ellow from the bill to the eye. Sides of the head, 

 ash, or warm gray ; breast and sides, lighter. Throat and belly, 

 white (the latter being separated from the ash of the head by 

 a narrow black maxillary line). Back, reddish-brown, black- 

 streaked, and feathers pale-edged. Rump and tail unmarked ; 

 latter of a vague grayish brown, former ashy-tinted. AVings 

 with two white bars, which are not prominent, and a yellow 

 edge. 9 , with less pure and defined colors than the male. 



(&). The nest is built on or near the ground, in woodland, 

 or sometimes pastures, and generally resembles that of the 

 Snow-bird or Song Sparrow. The first set of four or five eggs 



\ 



