ii8 THE SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 



the song is a sort nf sul)(luc(l musical croaking', nielli i\\ ami rich at close 

 quarters, but with little carrying power. The bird throws his head well back 

 in singing, and the tail is carried more nearl_\- horizontal than is the case with 

 most Sparrows. A song from the \'akima country ran: tU\>. clii/^'/^cicay, 

 clii[^'l^c:^'ii\, chij^' pci^'ay, but a common type heard on the l)anks of the Colum- 

 Ijia in Walla Walla County, and repeated upnn the nurthern limit (.-f the 

 bird's range in Douglas County, is Tul^. Iiip. to zccrly. chiip. liip. A more 

 pretentious ditt)-, occupying twO' seconds in delivery, runs I looiicdoppcty, 

 iccctcr K'cc, iloodlcty pootat'cr, — an ecstacy song, wherein the little singer 

 seems to be intoxicated with the aroma of his favorite sage. 



One may search a linig time in the neighlxirhood of the singer — who, by 

 the way, closes the concert abruptly when he realizes that he is likelv to give 

 his secret away — before finding the humble domicile a f(}nt nr twn u\) in a sage 

 bush. A nest which contained five eggs was composed externally of sage 

 twigs set int(j a concealed crotch nf the hush, Init the Ixilk of it consisted of 

 weed-bark and "hemp" of a quite uniform quality; while the lining contained 

 tufts of wool, rabbit-fur, cow-hair, feathers, and a few coiled horse-hairs. 

 The feathers were procured at some distant ranch, and their soft tips were 

 gracefully upturned tO' further the concealment of the eggs, alreadv well pro- 

 tected by their grayish green tints. 



.Vnother nest, sighted some forty paces away, contained one egg, and we 

 had high hopes of being able to secure photographs upon our return with the 

 camera. But a few rods further we came upon a crew of sneaking Magpies, 

 scouring the sage with a dozen beady eyes, and passing sneering or vulgarly 

 jocose remarks upon what they found. When we returned, therefore, a day 

 or twO' later, we were not surprised to learn that the feathered marauders 

 had preferred egg-in-the-hill tn souvenir ])hotiigraphs. 



No. 46. 



SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 



A. C). U. No. 567. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Snow-bird. Eastern Snow-isird. 



Description. — .Idiilt male in siiinnicr: U]:)])crparts, throat and breast slate- 

 color deepening to slaty-black on pileuni, the bluish tinge lacking on wings and 

 tail ; below, abruptly white from the breast, the flanks ashy slate ; the two outer 

 pairs of tail-feathers entirely, and the third pair principally white : bill flesh-color, 

 usually tipped with black. Adult female: Similar to male ; throat and breast 

 paler; a brownish wash over the upperparts, deepest on nape and upper back; 

 wings brownish fuscous rather than black, and sides tawny-washed. Adult male 

 ill zviiiter, becoming like female, but still distinguishable. I.,ength 6.00-6.50 



