FEINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 557 



Female similar, but smaller ; immature birds in first winter, with the black and white 

 stripes on the crown replaced by dark chestnut-brown and brownish-yellow. Length, 

 7.10 inches ; wing, 3.25. Young of the year thickly streaked with dusky on the breast. 

 The lateral stripes of the crown dull brown, the median one streaked whitish. 



Hab. United States from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, where they become 

 associated with Z. gamheli. Cape St. Lucas ; 

 Greenland (Reinhardt, Ibis, III, 7). Breed in 

 Wahsatch Mountains (Ridgway). 



The white of the crown separates two 

 black stripes on either side, rather nar- 

 rower than itself. The black line behind 

 the eye is continued anterior to it into the 

 black at the base of the bill. The lower 

 eyelid is white. There are some obscure 

 cloudings of darker on the neck above. ^//^ ' 



The rump is immaculate. No white on -- ' '" " ^^ 



the tail, except very obscure tips. The 

 white on the wings crosses tlie ends of the middle and greater coverts. 



The character distinguishing the western representative {Z. gamheli) of 

 leucophrys is apparently very trilling, but is very constant. 



Habits. The White-crowned Sparrow is found from the Eocky j\Ioun- 

 tains eastward to the Atlantic, and in all the intervening territory, from the 

 Southern States to the Arctic regions. In the high meadows of the 

 Wahsatch Mountains, Mr. Eidgway found this bird very abundant, and one 

 very characteristic, breeding there quite as numerously as any other species. 

 In all that region Mr. Eidgway did not meet with a single individual of Z. 

 gamheli, its western representative. At the encampment at Parley's Park 

 these birds soon became on very familiar terms with the party. They were 

 very sociable, and paid frequent visits to the cook's tent, and picked up, with- 

 out the slightest signs of fear, the crumbs from the ground. Their sweet 

 morning carol was, he states, delightful to the ear, and they were held in 

 great favor by all. A nest of these birds was found on the ground, at Parley's 

 Park, June 26. It was built in a bunch of Geraniam. Specimens of this 

 species were obtained, in winter, at Cape St. Lucas, Lower California, by Mr. 

 Xantus. 



Although an eastern species, passing, in its migrations, through the South- 

 ern Atlantic States to Labrador in the spring and returning in the fall, it is 

 a rare species in all New England. Mr. Boardinan says that it is not com- 

 mon in Eastern Maine, and IVIr. Verrill that it is rare in the western part of 

 that State. In Eastern Massachusetts it is very rare. Mr. jNIaynard men- 

 tions obtaining a single specimen, IMay 27, and regards it as quite a rare 

 migrant. I have never met with the bird near P>oston, and do not believe 

 that it is found there, except singly and rarely. In the western part of the 

 State, though less rare, it is very far from being common. It is found there 

 in the spring, from the 20th to the 30th of jNIay, and in October from the 1st 



