SPECIES 9. FRINGILLA ALBICOLLIS.* 



WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 



[Plate XXII. Fig. 2.] 



Fringilla fusca, BARTRAM, p. 291. LATH, n, 272. EDWARDS, 

 304. Arct. Zool. p. 373, JVo. 248. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 6486. 



THIS is the largest as well as handsomest of all our Sparrows. 

 It winters with the preceding species and several others in most 

 of the states south of New England. From Connecticut to Sa- 

 vannah I found these birds numerous, particularly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Roanoke river, and among the rice plantations. 

 In summer they retire to the higher inland parts of the country, 

 and also farther north to breed. According to Pennant they are 

 also found at that season in Newfoundland. During their resi- 

 dence here in winter, they collect together in flocks, always 

 preferring the borders of swampy thickets, creeks, andmillponds, 

 skirted with alder bushes and long rank weeds, the seeds of 

 which form their principal food. Early in spring, a little before 

 they leave us, they have a few remarkably sweet and clear 

 notes, generally in the morning a little after sun rise. About 

 the twentieth of April they disappear, and we see no more of 

 them till the beginning or second week of October, when they 

 again return; part to pass the winter with us; and part on their 

 route farther south. 



The length of the White-throated Sparrow is six inches and 

 a half, breadth nine inches; the upper part of the back and the 

 lesser wing coverts are beautifully variegated with black, bay, 

 ash and light brown; a stripe of white passes from the base of 

 the upper mandible to the hind head ; this is bordered on each 



* Fringilla pennsylvanica, LATH. Ind. Orn, i, p. 445, Passer pennsytvanicus, 

 Bniss< app. p, 77. Id. 8vo, r, p. 367- 



