FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 301 



their arrival. Then there are a few sweet, tremulous trials before the 

 plaintive, sympathetic whistle brings cheer to the browning woods : 



Few birds are more sociable than the White-throats. At this season 

 they are always in little companies, and they frequently roost together 

 in large numbers in the depths of dense thickets or clumps of ever- 

 greens. After they have retired one may hear the sharp chink of their 

 " quarrier " chorus, and when darkness comes, with low, brooding notes 

 of cozy companionship they are hushed for the night. 



559. Spizella monticola (Gmel.). TREE SPARROW; WINTER 

 CHIPPY. Ad. No black on the forehead; an indistinct black spot on 

 center of the breast; top of the head rufous-brown, sometimes edged with 

 ashy ; a grayish line over the eye and a rufous-brown line behind it ; back 

 streaked with rufous-brown, black, and pale ochraceous-buff; rump pale 

 grayish brown ; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white ; outer 

 web of the outer tail-feather whitish ; breast grayish white ; middle of the 

 belly white ; sides tinged with pale grayish brown ; upper mandible black, 

 lower, yellow at the base, the tip black. L., 6-36 ; W., 2-99 ; T., 2-82 ; B., -41. 



Range. Eastern North America; breeds in Labrador and the region 

 about Hudson Bay ; south in winter, through eastern United States ; west to 

 the edge of the Great Plains. 



Washington, abundant W. V., Nov. 1 to Apl. 5. Sing Sing, common 

 W. V., OcL 10 to Apl. 27. Cambridge, common W. V., abundant T. V., Oct. 

 25 to Nov. 25 ; Mch. 20 to Apl. 20. 



Nest, of grasses, rootlets, and hair, on or near the ground. "Eggs, four to 

 five, pale green or greenish blue, spotted with reddish brown, : 75 x -60 " 

 (Chamberlain). 



Tree Sparrows wear a small black dot on the center of their other- 

 wise unmarked breasts, a badge which will aid in their identification. 

 They come in flocks when the fields are beginning to look brown and 

 dreary, but seem contented with the surroundings from which other 

 birds have fled. 



They feed on the seeds of weeds and grasses, and even when the 

 snow is deepest always find an abundance of food. I like to see them 

 feasting on the seed stalks above the crust, and to hear their chorus of 

 merry, tinkling notes, like sparkling frost crystals turned to music. 



Winter Chippies they are sometimes called, but at this season there 



