SONG BIRDS OF ORCHARD AND WOODLAND. 215 



dissections go the bird seems to be almost entirely insectiv- 

 orous, and in every way one of the most desirable species 

 of woodland, orchard, and field. 



FINCHES, GROSBEAKS, AND TOWHEES. 



The Finch and Sparrow family is larger in numbers of 

 both species and individuals than any other family of North 

 American birds ; but comparatively few of the species dwell 

 and feed in orchard or woodland. The Pine Grosbeaks, 

 Pine Finches, Redpolls, and Crossbills are forest birds ; but 

 they come here from the north mainly during the colder 

 months of the year, when they feed largely on the seeds 

 of trees, and are not particularly useful. There are only 

 three common species belonging to the Sparrow family that 

 habitually live in or near woods, and even these are often 

 found in orchards and small groves. Most of the Sparrows 

 find a large part of their food on the gi-ound or near it. They 

 all have strong, rigid, conical beaks, and muscular gizzards ; 

 all are seed eaters, and, as the family feeds to a great extent 

 on the seeds of weeds and grasses, they live mainly in or 

 near open fields. A few, such as the Chipping Sparrow, the 

 Purple Finch, and the Goldfinch, build their nests in trees. 

 But these get a large part of their food in pastures, fields, or 

 gardens. The Goldfinch and Purple Finch, however, live so 

 much in trees that they may well be included among the 

 birds of woodland and orchard ; while the Rose-breasted 

 Grosbeak and the Towhee are entitled to be known as wood- 

 land birds, although often seen in orchard or garden. 



The Goldfinch and the Purple Finch are more in the 

 orchard and less in woodland than the Grosbeak and the 

 Towhee. In spring and summer these finches feed on many 

 orchard caterpillars. The Towhee is found mostly in young 

 coppice growth, in thickets on the borders of woodland, and 

 in briery tangles, but seldom in deep, dark woods. These 

 four species of this family perform essential service for trees. 

 The Towhee works on the ground and among the smaller 

 sprouts, and the others work more among trees of larger 

 growth. 



