om 
DUSKY, GRAY, AND SLATE-COLORED 333 
learned to shell the nuts and provide for themselves. 
Then it would seem a complete change of diet was 
necessary ; for they disappeared from these regions en- 
tirely, flocking to a locality where berries, fish, and in- 
sects abound. By the middle of June not one was left 
in the old breeding grounds. We missed their harsh 
“jar-jaar,” the flash of their black and white wings in 
the summer sunlight, and the woods seemed strangely 
silent bereft of their gay company. 
567a. OREGON JUNCO. — Junco hyemalis oregonus. 
Famity: The Finches, Sparrows, ete. 
Length : 6.00-6.50. 
Adult Male; Head, neck, and chest black or dark slate-color ; the chest 
line being convex instead of straight against the white under parts ; 
middle of back dark brown ; sides deep pinkish brown ; three outer 
tail-feathers white ; outside pair entirely white. 
Adult Female: Similar to male, but slate-color in place of black; crown 
and hind-neck washed with brown, remainder of upper parts brown- 
ish ; sides and flank dull pinkish brown. 
Young: Upper parts brown and streaked ; under parts buffy. 
Geographical Distribution: Pacifie coast, Alaska to British Columbia ; 
south in winter to California, east to Eastern Oregon and Nevada. 
Breeding Range: From British Columbia northward. 
Breeding Season: Apvil to July. 
Nest : Of dry grasses loosely put together ; lined with cow hair; placed 
generally on or near the ground, in holes among the roots of bushes 
and trees, and often under wood piles. 
Eggs: 4 or 5; whitish or greenish white, more or less specked with red- 
dish brown. Size 0.77 X 0.56. 
