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EMBERIZA PUSILLA— WILSON. 



FIELD BUNTING. 



Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Wils. Amer. Om. 

 Fringilla pusilla, Bonap. Syn. 



Field or Rush Sparrow, Fringilla juncorum, Nutt. Man. 

 Field Sparrow, Fringilla pusilla, Aud. Om. Biog 



Specific Character — Bill light brownish-red ; upper part of the 

 head chestnut ; a distinct band round the neck, the color bluish-gray, 

 lighter in front ; tail plain brown ; both webs of the feathers mar- 

 gined with dull white. Adult with the upper part of the head 

 chestnut red, similar markings on the neck, though much fainter ; 

 fore part of the back bright chestnut red, the feathers with central 

 markings of dusky, and margined with yellowish-gray ; loral space, 

 a spot behind the eye, throat, and a band on the hind neck, pale 

 bluish-gray ; lower parts grayish-white, with a tinge of yellowish- 

 brown on the sides of the neck, fore part of the breast and sides of 

 the body ; quills and tail feathers brown ; secondary coverts dusky, 

 tipped with white, as is the first row of small coverts. Length six 

 inches, wing two and three-eighths. 



About the middle of April, the Field Sparrow arrives from the 

 South, where it passes the winter. It prefers pasture lands, dry 

 grounds and corn-fields, and passes the most of its time on the 

 ground in quest of seeds and insects, on which it subsists. The 

 note of this abundant species is a simple chirrup. The nest is 

 placed on the ground, at the foot of a bush or briar ; the eggs are 

 six in number, so closely speckled with reddish-brown as to appear 

 altogether of that color. 

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