i2(t THE WKSTKUX TkEH SI'.^ROW. 



ti|)()c<l with white, foriniiij^ twt) cuiispiciious bands; llij^jht feathers and rectrices 

 fjrayisli <hisky marfjined with whitish and Iniffy. Hill blackish alxjve. yellow, 

 tijipeil with dnsky, below; legs brown, feet darker; iris brown. In nitttcr the 

 ciniianion-rnfous nf crown is slightly veiled, especially along median area, by 

 ashy skirtings of feathers, and the buflfy of ii|)])erparts inclines to strengthen. 

 Length about '>.oo (15.2.4); wing .^.00 (7^1); tail 2.68 (f)8); bill .39 ( 10) ; 

 tarsus .Sj ( jo.S 1. 



Recognition Marks. — Sparrow size; resembles Western Chi])])ing S])arrow 

 but nuicli larger; white wing-bars with chestnut of crown distinctive. 



Nesting. — Does not bree<l in Washington. "W'st, in low bushes or on the 

 grounil, loosely constructed of bark strijjs, weetls and grasses, warmly lined with 

 fe.itbers. Ii()t/s. 4-(), or even 7, pale green, minutely and regularly sprinkled with 

 reddish brown s|)ots" (Cones). .-\v. size, .75 x .60 ( \<j.l x 15. 2). 



General Range. — Ilreeding from the valley of Anderson River, near the 

 .Arctic coast westward thru .Alaska to coast of Mering Sea, and for an unde- 

 termined distance southward ; in winter south thru western North America to 

 .\rizona, Texas, etc.. eastward across Rocky Mts. to Oeat I'lains (Ridgway). 



Range in Washington. — Xot common winter resident and migrant. Has 

 not recently been reported west of the Casca<les. 



Authorities. — Brewster, Hull. Niut. Orn. Club, \II. 1K82. \)\). 22~. 228. 

 (T). (C\S). Sr. 1)--. 



Specimens. — (I', ol W. 1. I''. I'mv. 



"'!'lll\ sight of the first Tree Siiarnnv in the fall serves i)crfeclly to 

 c.il! lip a vision of iiii])en(!ing winter. Here are the hurrying blasts, the 

 leaden skies, the piling snow-drifts, all ready to make the l)ehol(ler shiver. 

 Rut here, too. in some unlniricd weed patch, or thicket of n)se-l)riars, is a 

 compaiiv of Tree Sparrows, stout-hearted and cold-defving, setting up a 

 iiierrv tinkling chorus, as eloquent of good cheer as a crackling Vule-log. 

 How manv times has the bird-man hasteneil out after some cruel cold snap, 

 thinking. 'Siuelv this will settle for my birds." only to have his fears rebuked 

 l)v a troop of these hardy Xorsemen revelling in soine hack pasture as if they 

 had foinid their X'alhalla on this side the icy gates. Ho! brothers! Iiere is 

 food in these capsides of mustard and cockle: here is wine distilleil from 

 the rose-hips; here is shelter in the weedy mazes, or un<ier the soft blanket 

 of the snow. What ho! Lift the light song! Pass round the cuj) again! 

 Let mighty cheer i)revail !" ( Hirds of Ohio). 



Truth to tell, the Western Tree S])arrows are somewhat rare winter 

 visitors, in eastern Washington only. In habits they do not appear to differ 

 materiallv from the typical form, which is very abundant in winter thniout 

 the ni rthern tier of eastern states. In the nature of the case, while with us. 

 their food, consisting as it does of grass- and weed-seeds and dried l)erries. 

 is found near the ground: and so, for the season, the name Tree Sparrow 

 seems inconsistent. When persistently annoyed, however, the Hock will rise 



