230 LAND-BIRDS. 



particularly the former. In the early morning their songs, 

 when blended with those of these Sparrows, form a loud and 

 very striking, but confusing and misleading chorus. The Fox 

 Sparrows are rather shy, when frightened taking flight to 

 trees (especially the pines) ; but they pass most of their time 

 upon the ground, where they feed principally upon seeds, and 

 such morsels as they find beneath the fallen leaves. They 

 have a peculiar habit of scratching, much like Hens, and thus 

 turn over the pine needles, etc., or rake the grass. 



d. Their most pleasing characteristic is their song, which 

 is rich, full, loud, clear, and ringing, though tinged with a 

 slightly mournful tone. It can be well imitated by the 

 human whistle, but cannot be well described, owing to its 

 several variations. It may often be heard here, chiefly in the 

 cooler hours of the day, in March or April. It is sometimes 

 abridged to a sweet warble, to which twitters are occasionally 

 added. The Fox-colored Sparrows have also a rather dreary 

 lisp or " tseej)^^ and a loud chuck^ which is more rarely heard. 

 In my Journal is the following anecdote of a young bird 

 of this species. " Nov. 24th. . . . Observing him on a 

 branch above me, I whistled the spring song of this SjDar- 

 row, being curious to observe his conduct. Whereupon the 

 youngster swelled his throat, opened his bill, and apparently 

 tried to sing, producing, however, only a few weak hisses. 

 This he repeated several times, as often as I whistled. Find- 

 ing, however, none of his companions about, as I had probably 

 led him to suppose, he soon returned to the asparagus-bed 

 near by." His instinct of song, and his futile efforts to 

 answer my deceptive notes, afford much food for interesting 

 thought. 



If anything can add freshness to the freshness of a bright 

 morning in spring, it is the music which the Fox Sparrows 

 produce at that season, and it is well worth the effort of early 



XVII. JUNCO. 



A. HYEMALis. Snoio-hird.^^ In Massachusetts, com- 



^^ Often called the Black or Blue Snow-bird, in distinction from the Snow 

 Bunting, or " White Snow-bird." 



