BLACK SNOW BIRD, 61 



Comparisons. This is the only dark, unstreaked Sparrow 

 which we have that is less than seven inches long, which has 

 white tail feathers. The Vesper Sparrow has, but this is 

 streaked both above and below. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests, placed on the ground, are shal- 

 low, cup-like structures, composed of grasses, lined with finer. 

 Eggs, four or five in number, oval in form, varying from white 

 to bhiish white in color, spotted with reddish brown and lilac. 



General Habits. The Snow Bird is an abundant spring 

 and autumnal migrant throughout middle and southern New 

 England, and a winter resident in Massachusetts and south- 

 vrard. It is a common summer resident on the mountains of 

 western and central Massachusstts, and is found somewhat 

 rarely in northern Worcester County, and is abundant through- 

 out northern New England. Some migrate every season as 

 far south as the Carolinas and often quite to Florida. 



They are rather nervous, active birds, frequenting hedge 

 rows and thickets along walls or fences in spring and autumn 

 but in winter they prefer the shelter offered by the thick ever- 

 green trees, into which they dart for concealment when dis- 

 turbed. They are always easily recognized by the dark color 

 and white tail feathers, which they are constantly displaying 

 as they hop about on the ground or when flying. 



Song. The alarm note of the Snow Bird is a sharp chirp 

 which is often repeated several times in rapid succession, un- 

 til it becomes almost a twitter. When migrating in spring 

 and sometimes in autumn, they give a low warbling song 

 which is quite melodious, but in summer when breeding, the 

 lay uttered as a regular song, is nothing better than a series of 



