194 



SINGING BIRDS — OSCINES. 



lu the spring the males sing veiy sweetly, more like the canary than any 

 other bird, but witli an occasional harsli note intermingled Tliey fre([uent 

 open plains, but usually near trees, and often alight on them in flocks. 

 Their food consists chiefly of grass and other seeds wliich they find on the 

 gnnuid. 



They are more simihir in liabits to the grass iincli than to any otlicr l)iril, 

 and resemble this species somewhat in cohirs also. 



Z. Iturophnjz. 



Genus ZONOTRICHIA, Swainson. 



Zonoinrhia, SwAissoN, Fauna Bor. Am. II. 1831. (Type, Emheriza letirnphtys, Forster.) 



Gen. Cii-\r. Body rather stout. Bill oonical, .slightly notelioil, pomowhat compressed, 

 excavated insile, the lower maniliblc not so deep as the upper; gonys slightly convex ; 

 commissure nearly straight. Feet stout ; tarsus rather longer than middle too ; the lateral 



Z. Ifucophryt. 



