PASSERES FRINGILLID.E FRINGILLA. 153 



THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 



FrINGILLA leucophrys. 



PLATE I.X. FIG. 137 (Male). FIG. 139 (Female). 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Emberiza leucophrys, Gmelim. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol.2, p. 355, pi. 16 (male). Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 4, 



p. 49, pi. 31, fig 4. 

 F. ( Spiza) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 107. Aububon, fol. pi. 114. Nottall, Man. Orn. Vol. 



l,p.479; ambigua? Id. (winter plumage?). 

 F. (Zonotrkhia) leucophrys. Rich. & Swainson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 255. KirtlaHD.JZooI. Ohio, p. 183. 

 F. id. Peabody, Mass. Rep. p. 321. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 3, p. 157, pi. 192. 

 White-crowned Finch. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 123. 



Characteristics. Head white ; line surrounding the crown, and through the eye, black ; 

 beneath pale ash : vent ochreous. Female : Crown rufous, somewhat 

 lighter in the centre. Length, seven inches. 



Description. Bill acute, very faintly notched near the tip. Third quill longest. Tail 

 nearly even, 1*8 longer than the tips of the closed wings, with its feathers acuminate. 



Color. Tips of the wing-coverts white, forming two interrupted bars across the wings. 

 Outer webs of the primaries whitish. Interscapular region brown, varied with soiled white. 

 Head white, surrounded by four longitudinal black bands ; that through the eye, occasionally 

 interrupted ; and, according to Audubon, the white head becomes dusky in winter. Female : 

 line over the head and through the eye rufous brown ; cheeks light brown ; tail beneath obso- 

 letely barred with dusky. Young : the head ashen, with the bands greyish brown ; beneath 

 yellowish white : at the second moult, the head becomes yellowish brown and the bands 

 darker. 



Length, 6'5-7*5. Alar spread, 10-0-10-5. 



This northern sparrow is rather a rare species in this State. The male figured in the plate 

 was shot at Monticello, Sullivan county, in the autumn. Audubon observed them near New- 

 York in May. It breeds north, of the United States, although it is possible that it may be 

 discovered to breed in this State. The eggs are light sea-green, thickly spotted with reddish 

 brown towards the larger end : the nest is placed on the ground. It enters the Union on the 

 approach of winter, and is found as far south as 28° north latitude, from whence it ranges 

 to the 68th parallel. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 20 



