232 Birds ok Xokth Cakoi.ixa 



combe County (where Cairns t'otmd it a conunon winter visitor, and also observed 

 it ncstino- on Black Motnitain). 



In wintiT Pine Siskins ro in flocks, feeding on \-arious seeds and berries, includ- 

 ing those of the alder, pine, cedar, and trumpet-vino. At Raleigh C. S. Brimley 

 has found tlieni most freqviently eating alder seeds. 



Fig. 182. Pise Siskik. 



The nest is said to be Iniilt in a coniferous tree as a rule, at a height of about 

 twenty-five feet from the ground. It is made of dry grasses and pine needles with 

 a lining of feathers, fine rootlets, or hair. The eggs are greenish white or pale 

 greenish blue in ground-color, spotted with various shades of brown, but usually 

 quite faintly marked. Average size .G3 x .50. The usual complement of eggs is 

 three or four. 



Ludlow Griscom writes: " Don't know how often Siskins reach North Carolina, 

 but saw eighteen on January 1, 1917; flock of ten near Currituck Court House, 

 and a flock of fi\c and three singles flying south over the beach earlier in th(> day." 



Genus Passer (Briss.) 

 219. Passer domesticus domesticus (Linn.). English Sparrow. 



Description: Ad. male. — Crown (rruy, Ijonlcred from the eye b.ackwartl ami on tlio ii.'ipo by 

 chnstnut; lesser wing-coverts chestnut, niidtUe eoverts tipi)e(l witli wliite; hack .streaked with 

 hlaek and chestnut; rump ashy; middle of the throat and breast bhick; sides of the throat white; 

 belly whitish. Ad. fcnnilc. — Head and runi]) Kr.-iyish brown; back streaked with black and deep 

 ochraceous-bulT; underparts dirty whitish, the breast and sides waslicd willi pal<' gravish brown. 

 L., 6.:«; ^^■., S.Ol ; T., ■>.:U); B., .is. (( 'hai)., Iiird.y of E. \. A.) 



liniiiie in United States. — Nearly all inhabited districts. 



Hnitge in North Carolina. — Virtually the whole State, especially in towns and villages. 



The I'jnglish S|)arrow, more correctly nanieil the European House Sparrow, is 

 an abundant bird in the more thickly settled parts of the State, and, so far as we 

 are aware, first ai)i)earetl at Raleigh al>out 1870, since which time it has .steadily 

 increased botii in i\umbers and extent of territory occupied. At present, so far as 

 we know. Highlands, Macon County, is the only town of any size where it does 

 not now occur. At Blowing Rt>ck in Watauga County, another mountain town, it 

 did not appear until 1007. However, there is no doubt that it will shortly reach 

 the few settled localities where it has not yet established itself. 



Although universally considered to l)e a nuisance, this bird has some redeeming 

 qualities. It will devour cabbage-worms to a consideratile extent, and has also 



