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NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT. 



Part I. 



THE FINCHES. 



THE FINCHES. 



winter, when they often appear in large 

 flocks. They breed, according to Audu- 

 bon, in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Labra- 

 dor, and a few probably rear their young 

 in this state. Dr. Richardson says that 

 it is a permanent resident of the fur coun- 

 tries, where it may be seen in the coldest 

 weather. Its nest resembles that of tlic 

 Yellow Bird. The eggs, usually 5, are 

 bluish green, spotted with reddish brown 

 towards the large end. 



THE FERRUGINOUS FINCH. 



Fringilla iliaca. — Merrem. 



Description. Above varied with 



reddish brown and gray ; beneath white, 

 largely spotted with bright bay and dus- 

 ky ; liead and neck cinereous, the feath- 

 ers margined with ierruginous ; wings 

 and tail rust color, inclined to reddish 

 brown ; 1st and 2d row of wing-coverts 

 tipped with white ; bill stout,dusky above ; 

 iris hazel. Length G, spread Di. — jXutt. 



Hi3T0Ry. — Most of this species spend 

 the summer to the northward of the Uni- 

 ted States, and appear among us only 

 during their spring and fall migrations. 

 Some few of them, however, breed in the 

 northern states, and I am informed by 

 Dr. Brewer that they rear their young in 

 the north ])art of this state. They build 

 their nest upon the ground, and their 

 Pggs, 4 or 5, are of a dull greenish hue, 

 irregularly blotched with brown. 



WHITE-THROATED FINUH. 



Fringilla pennsylvanica. — Lath. 



Description. — The head striped with 

 dusky and white ; a yellow line from the 

 nostril to the eye ; upper parts varied 

 with dusky, bay and light brown; shoul- 

 der of the wing edged with greenisli yel- 

 low; cheeks and breast cinereous ; throat 

 and belly white ; legs pale flesh-color ; 

 bill bluish horn-color ; iris hazel. Female 

 below, and stripes on the head, light 

 drab. Length 7, spread 9^. — Autt. 



History. — This large and handsome 

 Finch, or Sparrow, spends the winter, in 

 large numbers, in the southern states, but, 

 on the approach of spring, proceed to tlie 

 north and rear their young throughout 

 the whole region, from New England to 

 the Fur Countries abovit Hudson's Bay. 

 A few of them breed in tlie north part of 

 Vermont. Their nest is built upon the 

 ground, made of grass, and lined with hair 

 and feathers. The eggs are pale green, 

 marbled with reddish brown. 



WHITE-CROWNED FINCH. 

 Fringilla Icvcoplirijs. — Temm . 



Description. — Crown white, line sur- 

 rounding it and through each eye black ; 

 back streaked with dark rusty brown and 

 pale bluish white; wings dusky, with 

 two white bands ; tertials black ; rump 

 and tail coverts drab ; chin and belly 

 whitish ; vent pale ochreous ; tail 

 long, rounded, dusky, broadly edged with 

 drab ; bill, legs and feet cinnamon brown. 

 Female with the colors duller. Length 

 7A, spread 10. — JVutt. 



History. — This species is seen here 

 only during its spring and fall migrations. 

 Audubon informs us that itbreeds in New- 

 foundland, Labrador and still further 

 north. Their nest is built upon the 

 ground, made of moss and lined with 

 hair. The eggs, usually 5, are of a sea- 

 green color, mottled and blotched with 

 different shades of brown. 



ARCTIC GROUND FINCH. 



Fringilla arctica. — Swain 



Description. — The head, neck above 

 and below, scapulars, all the wing cov- 

 erts and tail pitch black ; some of the 

 breast feathers fringed with white; back 

 scapulars, and wing coverts striped or 

 tipped witii white; quills hair brown; 

 middle of the breast and belly pure white; 

 sides, flanks and under tail coverts deep 

 and bright ferruginous ; bill black ; legs 

 pale brown. Female with upper plumage 

 ferruginous-brown. Length 8|, tail 4. — 

 Nutt. 



History. — This species is migratory, 

 spending the summer and rearing its 

 young in the Fur Countries, and retiring 

 in the winter to warmer regions. Dr. 

 Brewer informs me that it breeds also 

 about Coventry, (now Orleans,) in this 

 state. The nest is made of grass and 

 leaves upon the ground, and tlie eggs, 

 4 or 5, are white, spotted with reddish 

 chocolate. 



TOWHE-GROUND FINCH. 



Fringilla crytlirophthulma . — Linn. 



Description. — Upper parts black ; bel- 

 ly white ; flanks and vent bay ; tail 

 rounded, 4 outer feathers partly white ; 

 a white spot on the wing below the cov- 

 erts and an interrupted white margin on 

 the primaries ; bill black. Female olive 

 brown where the male is black, the head 

 and throat inclining to chestnut ; 3 only 

 of the lateral tail feathers marked with 

 white. Length 8, spread 11. — KiM. 



History. — This common bird derives 



