WHITF.-TiriiOA TF.l) SI' A HUO W 



DIJIKXSTOXS. 



483 



Avcmgo Inoa^ul■omc^ts of fifteen spooimoa*. Lengt!;, G 35; stretch, 0-55; wing, 3'05; tail, 2'85; bill, ''IS; tai-sa**, '90. 

 Longest spw inicn, 7':)5; greatest extent of wing, 9'80; l.mgest wing, 3' 10; tail, 3'00; bill, ■r>5; tai-sus, •*);>. Shortest speci- 

 men, fi-30; smallest extent of wing, 8-80; shortest wing, 'i-t^i; tail, '2-()0; bill, -50. tai'sus, -81. 



DESCRIPTION OF XEST.S AXU EGGS. 



Nfs/s, ]ilaecil on t!io ground. They are rather comjiact struoturcs, etmiposed of dried gra-sses and fine roots, lined with 

 boi-se hair and grass. Dimensions; external diameter, 4'00, internal, 2'75. External depth, 2'50, internal, 1'75. 



Eij(j^, four or five in number, oval in form, bluish-white in color, spotted, blotched, and dotted with reddLsh-brown and 

 lilae. Dimensions, from -80 x -60 to -90 x -e.!. 



HABITS. 



The hammock edges in Florida are almost always occupied by birds of several spe- 

 cies. Prominent among them are the Whitc-throtitcd Sparrows but they arc confined to 

 the Middle and Northern sections of the state. I did not iind very many of them at Blue 

 Springs, and none south of this point. But they were abundant along the borders of the 

 extensive cotton phiutatious on the Sea Islands of the Carolintis and Georgia. While 

 there, however, they have no special habits by which they can readily be distinguished 

 from many other of the more .arboreal, Fringillinc birds; yet they never lose some pecu- 

 li;uiti(>s by which the close observer can always identify them. The sharp chirp of ahu'in 

 th;!.t \i given while the birds are in concealment, or while they peer cautiously out to watch 

 the intruder, is one of the chief characteristics which the White-throated Sparrows retain 

 at all seasons. 



Vvliile passing through the Middle and New England States, when on their north- 

 ward migration, they do not always frequent the wooded portions, but move in straggling 

 tlocks along the licdges and fence rows of the more cultivated sections. The mild but in- 

 vigorating weather of early May apparently awakens a desire in the birds to sing, and 

 then t'u^y begin to practice the first notes of their fine melody. But it is not until later, 

 when t!iey arrive in the evergreen forests whic^h f )rm thcii; summer resorts, that the song 

 is heard at full le-.^.gth. 



TIic'.i in the (\irly mornings of June when the purple mist luuigs over the mountains, 

 wliere the delicate ferns which wave by the ever murmuring brooks are spai'kling with dew 

 drops, when the freshly grown leaves of the overhanging foliage ;ire showing their loveliest 

 green, the melodious strains of the White-throated Sparrows may be heard to perfection. 

 This lay consists of sever;d sweet, prolongcMJ whistles, and is somewhat plaintive, l)ut A^ery 

 pleasing. Not only do our little musicians perform through the cooler hours of the morn- 

 ing, but the sultry noon-time also finds them singing. They are more silent when the sun 

 declines toward the West, but liegin again in the cool of evening. Thus they are almost 

 untiring in their efforts through the day, and, sis if not satisfied, will frequently burst in- 

 to full s.Mig during the night. But when the rocky mountain tops arc gleaming in the 

 brilli;nit moon-lig'.it, and the silvery beams are haling their way through the openings in 

 the shadowy forests, illuminating the little glades whii^h form the homes of the Spi'.rrows, 

 they are especially mu.ucrd. Then when all else is silent, save the occasional mchuicholy 

 notes of the Whi[i-p()()r-\vill (ir the distant hoof of some Owl, the eflect produced by Ihi^ 

 incomii:ir,d)k' song is sur[)assiiigly bc'iuliful. 



