DIRECTORY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 207 



in northern S. A. ; goes south in early Oct. ; comes north in 

 early May. Frequents meadows and moist, grassy fields; 

 gregarious when migrating. A Fig. 271. 



well known rollicking song, a ,/ _ — «sr & 



blackbird-like chirp, and a metal- 

 lic clink when migrating. 



F. SPARROWS AND 

 FINCHES. Fringillidae. 



Rather robust birds of varying 

 sizes, but never very large, having 

 conical bills, which are deeper at 

 the base than one- half the length 

 and have the cutting edge of upper 

 mandible angled, consult diagram 

 on page 8 for these and other char- 

 acters. A wide spread family with 

 numerous species. CC, E, k, 1. 1-4. 



a. Silk Bunting's. Si)iza. 



Medium sized sparrows with rather thick bills, long 

 pointed wings and nearly square tails. Streaked above not 

 below. 



1. BLACK-THEOATED BUNTING, S. 

 AMERICANA. 6.75 ; ashy-ycllow above ; streaks, 

 dusky ; white beneath ; yellow on breast and 

 under wings; black spot on throat, fig. 272. 

 Female duller. Breeds in U. S. between the 

 Alleghanies and the Rockies, now rare in the 

 eastern section. Winters in Mexico and Cen- 

 tral America. Nests in trees and bushes ; eggs, 

 3 to 5, bluish-green, unspotted. Song, a lisp- 

 ing twitter. 



b. Arboreal Sparrows. Spizella. 



Small sparrows streaked above, plain be- 

 CC, 1. 1-4. 



Fiff. 272. 



