18 



sion depending on the character of the winter. But these hardy 

 northerners depart in Februarj^, and are succeeded by the hosts of 

 its species which make up the great northward migration, wiiich 

 begins late in February. It commences to build in April, and its 

 ;first clutch of eggs is commonly deposited late in that month. The 

 nest may be found in various situations — frequently attached to rushes 

 in the marshes. On April 27, 1878, a pair of Song Sparrows were 

 Incubating their eggs, in an old nest of the Red-winged Blackbird 

 (Ageloius phoeniceus). In the same season, young were seen flying by 

 May 18. It is not uncommon to find it sitting upon a late brood of 

 eggs during the month of August. Prof. James M. DeGarmo has a 

 nearly perfect albino, taken at Rhiuebeck, on the Hudson. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of twenty-five specimens: 

 length, 6-30; stretch, 8-57; wing, 2-52; tail, 262; culmen, -49; tar- 

 •sus, -82; middle toe, -67; middle toe and its cla-sv, -85. 



82. Junco hyemalis (Linne). Eastern Snowbird. An abun- 

 dant winter resident. Arrives in autumn about the end of September 

 (30, 1874; October 12, 1875; September 28, 1876; October 18, 1879), 

 and remains till May (1, 1873; 9, 1874; 8, 1875; 5, 1876; April 22, 

 1878; May 8, 1879; April 23, 1880). It breeds plentifully in the 

 Catskill Mountains, and doubtless on the Shawangunk range in 

 Orange County, N. Y. Mr. Wm. Church Osborn found it at Lake 

 Mohouk, Ulster County, N. Y., in July, 1877. The Snowbird sings 

 verj^ sweetly before leaving us in the spring. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of twenty-four specimens : 

 length, 6-27; stretch, 9-78; wing, 303; tail, 2-71; culmen, -41; tar- 

 sus, -81; middle toe and its claw, -72. 



83. Spizella raontana (^Forster). Tree Sparrow. A very 

 abundant winter resident. Arrives from the North about the end of 

 October (31, 1874; 30, 1876; November 7, 1877; October 26, 1878; 

 November 17 [or earlier], 1879), and departs in April (29, 1874; 29, 

 1875; 29, 1876; 13, 1877; March 28, 1878; April 28, 1879; April 8, 

 1880). In the spring it has a very agreeable song, ending in a loud 

 trill. Its food, in winter, consists largely of the seeds of alder and 

 birch. 



Dimensions. — Average measurements of twenty-eight specimens : 

 length, 6-36; stretch, 946; wing, 2-99; tail, 2-82; culmen, -41; gape, 

 •47; tarsus, -80; middle toe, -56; middle toe and its claw, -76. 



84. Spizella socialis {Wilson). Chipping Sparrows A very 

 abundant summer resident; breeds. Arrives from the South earlj^ in 

 April (12, 1874 [2, F. S. Osborn]; 7, 1875; 17, 1876 [15, de Nottbeck] ; 

 IG, 1877; 3, 1878; 10, 1879; 5, 1880), and departs late in autumn (Oc- 

 tober 25, 1874; 29, 1876; 23, 1877; November 29, 1879). Begins to 

 lay about the middle of May C16, 1872; 17, 1873; 12, 1877. Each nest 

 contained its full complement of eggs). 



