THE PERCHING BIRDS. 97 



The Sea-side Finch is more strictly marine than the 

 preceding, and what the sand-pipers do in the way of 

 running and wave dodging is quite within this spar- 

 row's capabilities ; but it does more : it does its best 

 to enliven the salt marshes by a lively little song 

 which it hears, doubtless, but which is often drowned 

 by the ceaseless clack and clatter of the clapper rails. 



Both the sharp-tailed and sea-side finches are cre- 

 puscular, and run up and down the reeds and on the 

 water's edge long after most birds have gone to 

 sleep ; and late at night, on the shore of Chesapeake 

 Bay, I have heard the simple song of the sea-side 

 sparrow. 



The White-crowned Sparrow is a beautiful north- 

 ern bird that comes southward in autumn and 

 remains until spring. Along the coast-line and 

 through the Delaware Valley they are irregular in 

 their appearance, but less so in the interior. The 

 greater portion continue into the strictly Southern 

 States, and a mild winter is called for to keep them 

 where there is likely to be much ice and snow. 



The white-crowned sparrows of our Atlantic sea- 

 board go out of the country to breed, and congre- 

 gate in Labrador and Newfoundland. Here Dr. 

 Coues found them nesting, the structure being placed 

 upon the ground. This author states, 



"The song of this species bears a close general resemblance to 

 that of the White-throat, but is, nevertheless, instantly distinguish- 

 able." 



In the West, this bird breeds in mountainous regions. 

 Mr. Trippe describes their song, as he heard it in 

 Colorado, as 



K g 9 



