292 WASTE-LAXD WANDERINGS. 



bird would be driven away ; I believe even then tlie 

 grass-finch would not be dislodged. 



Again, from autumn to S2:)ring we have white-throated 

 sparrows that sing loudly if not well; and rarer to a 

 degree, the even prettier white- crowned finch. Whether 

 in the woods or fields, upland or meadow, it matters not, 

 from October to April we are sure of these splendid 

 representatives of the sparrow tribe. 



And escape, if you can, the myriads of tree-sparrows. 

 Over the snow they trip, as blithely as an arctic bunting, 

 chirping pleasing notes at times, and ridding the winter's 

 day of every semblance of dreariness. Not only here in 

 treeless tracts, but up in the woods they are alike abun- 

 dant ; often in flocks of a hundred of their owm kind, 

 and not less frequently associated with birds of other 

 species. When, as at winter, one does not expect elab- 

 orate love-songs, the united voices of scores of tree-spar- 

 rows are very welcome to the rambler's ear. 



The social chipping sparrow does not always forsake 

 us in winter, and the song -sparrow braves our coldest 

 weather. They are now a bird of the w^illow hedges, in 

 the marshes, and of smilax along the meadow fences. 

 Here it is w^armer than about the uplands, and so, find- 

 ing warmth and food in abundance, they remain until 

 nesting-time comes round again. 



The fox-colored sparrow, largest and most beautiful 

 of them all, is ever a feature of our winter landscape, 

 and once seen, he is not likely to be forgotten ; and when, 

 as the winter closes, he sings among the hedge-rows, he 

 is certain to remain in the memory of all who hear him. 



With still another finch the long list closes ; for hap- 



