228 LAND-BIRDS. 



a. About seven inches long. Crown, like that of alhicollis 

 (^), but with the median and siqjerciliary lines much broader, 

 and meeting behind. Rump and tail, and the under parts also, 

 as in albicolliSy but with the colors beneath less distinct. Nape 

 and sides of head, light-colored. Back, streaked with brown 

 ( = " purplish bay " ) and ashy white. Wings, with two white 

 bars. 



b. " Eggs of this species, from Wyoming Territory, meas- 

 ure from .90 to .95 of an inch in length by .70 in breadth, and 

 are of an oblong-oval shape. The ground-color is a light 

 greenish white, thickly marked with reddish brown and lighter 

 markings of an obscure purplish brown. The intensity, depth 

 of coloring, and size of the darker brown markings, vary. 

 They are principally disj^osed about the larger end." [Dr. 

 Brewer.] 



c. I shall not here give a detailed account of the White- 

 crowned Sparrows, since they are closely allied to the White- 

 throated Sparrows, of whose habits and notes a full description 

 has been given in the preceding pages. They are rare in 

 eastern, but not so in western Massachusetts, through which 

 State they pass about the middle of May, and again in Sep- 

 tember or early October. It is in spring, when traveling to 

 the land north of the United States, that they are most com- 

 mon. They do not often mingle with the " White-throats " ; 

 but often reach the neighborhood of Boston rather later, and, 

 instead of gathering in flocks, usually go about individually or 

 paired. They feed on the seeds, and perhaps the insects which 

 they can obtain in swamps, stubble-fields, or on the roadsides ; 

 but they also frequent woodland. They are so shy as to escape 

 general notice, the more so from their strong resemblance to 

 the " Peabody-birds " (Z. albicollis). 



d. I have heard them sing during their brief stay here but 

 once or twice. Their song, and their '' tseep," are almost 

 exactly like those of the White-throated Sparrow, already de- 

 scribed.* 



* Mr. Minot evidently made some very different in both form and tone 



mistake here, for the song of the from the song- of the White-throated 



White-crowned Sparrow is most nearly Sparrow. — W. B. 

 like that of the Vesper Sparrow and 



