152 NEW-YORK FAUNA BIRDS. 



THE WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: 

 Fringilla pennsylvanica. 



PLATE LXI. FIG. Ml. 

 (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Passer pennsylvanicus, Brisson. 



While-throated Finch. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 372. 



F. albicollis. Wilsojj, Am. Orn. Vol. 3, p. 51, pi. 5, fig. 2 (male). 



F. ( Spiza) pennsylvanica, Bqnaparte, Ann. Lye, N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 108. Audobon, fol. pi. 8. Nuttall, Man. 



Orn. Vol. 1, p. 461. 

 F. (Zonotrichia) id. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 256 (bill). Kirtland, Zool. Ohio, p. 104. Pea- 

 body, Birds of Mass. 321. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 153, pi. 191. 

 While-throated Finch. Giraud, Birds o[ Long island, p. 122. 



Characteristics. Crown with a white longitudinal line, bordered on each side with black : 

 line from the nostril yellow ; throat white, with a short black line on 

 each side. Female : Crown varied with black and dark bay ; sides 

 reddish. Length, six inches. 



Description. Bill robust, with a notch near the tip of the upper mandible, most obvious 

 in the female. Third and fourth primaries longest. Tail 1*8 longer than the tip of the 

 closed wings. Hind claw not highly curved. 



Color. Above varied with rufous and black ; rump olive brown. The line over the eye, 

 continuous with the lemon stripe from the nostrils, is white. Cheeks, sides of the neck and 

 breast slate ; flanks tinged with rufous. Female : Crown deep bay varied with black ; di- 

 viding line cream-colored ; rump rufous ; sides of the belly deep reddish drab. 



Length, 6 • - 6 : 5. Alar spread, 8 • 5 - 9 • 0. 



This active northern sparrow appears more or less in New- York during the whole year. 

 I have seen them in the heart of winter near the coast ; although I believe, with Audubon, 

 that the great bulk do not ascend farther north than Maryland or Pennsylvania until spring. 

 The eggs are pale green, thickly mottled with reddish brown. It feeds on seeds and insects. 

 It ranges from 23° to 66° north. It will probably be found to breed in the northern parts of 

 this State. 



