SONG SPARROW. 323 



Hab. — Noitli Aiueiica at large, but chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 lireeiling from the higher parts of the Alleghanies and Northein New York 

 and northern New England northward ; south in winter to the (iulf States. 



Nest, on the ground, rarely in a liusli above it, composed of stiips of back, 

 grass and rootlets, lined with moss and haii-. 



Eggs, four or five, greenish-white, spotted and l)l()t(]ied with reddish-brown. 



Tn Southern Ontario the "White Bill," as this .species is familiarly 

 called, may fairly be considered resident, for although it is most 

 numerous in April and October, it breeds commonly throughout the 

 country, and a few are always observed remaining during tlie winter. 



It is a very familiar species, showing a marked partiality for 

 I'ocky ravines, quarries and stone heaps. Tt is also common by the 

 i-oadsides and in gullies and other uncultivated places, but in the 

 dense bush we seldom see it, until we come to a spot where men and 

 horses have been at work felling and hauling timber. In such a 

 place at all seasons, its white tail feathers are almost sure to be 

 noticed flirting about among the brush. The ordinary note of this 

 species is a simple " chi])," like the sound produced by striking two 

 pebbles together, but in the spring the male has a rather pleasing 

 little song, with which he cheers his mate while they are fitting 

 up their home. 



This species extends its migrations a long way to the north, 

 where Mr. Nelson says : " This is one of the rarest sparrows visiting 

 the coast of the Behring Sea. It is, however, much more numerous 

 in the interior, and is found more or less common along the entire 

 course of the Yukon, at the mouth of whicli it breeds." 



Genus MELOSPIZA Baird. 



MELOSPIZA FASCIATA (Gmel.). 



234. Song Sparrow. (581) 



Below, white, slightly shaded with brownish on the flanks and crissum, 

 breast and sides with numerous dusky streaks, with brown edges, coalescing 

 to form a pectoral blotch, and maxillary sti-ipes bounding the throat ; crown 

 dull bay, with fine black streaks, divided and bounded on either side by 

 ashy-whitish lines ; vague brown or dusky and whitish markings on the 

 sides of the head ; the interscapular streaks black, with bay and ashy-white 

 edgings ; rump and cervix, grayish-brown, with merely a few bay marks ; 

 wings with dull Ijay edgings,' the coverts and inner quills marked like the 

 interscapulars ; tail, obviously longer than the wings, pale brown, with darker 



