300 GLEANINGS FROM NATURE. 



From the above description it will be seen that the 

 name " snow-bird," by which this sparrow is so com- 

 monly known, is a misnomer as far as color is con- 

 cerned, and was probably given to it on account of its 

 habit of flocking about houses and barns after every 

 snow storm. 



Its scientific name is Junco hiemalis (L.), from two 

 Latin words meaning "a rush" and "wintry." The 

 common name, "slate-colored junco," which, among 

 naturalists, is coming into general use, is sufficient to 

 properly distinguish it from other members of the 

 same genus. 



While the snow-bird is known to every one in the 

 country as a common and familiar winter resident, 

 there are few people but to whom its -coming and 

 going is a mystery, and the question is often asked : 

 "What becomes 0f the snow-birds in summer, and 

 where do they nest?" Many are the answers given 

 to this question by persons who know little or nothing 

 of the habits of birds. A common belief, and one 

 which was upheld by an article whicli appeared less 

 than a dozen years ago in one of the leading news- 

 papers of this State, is, that our common sparrows, 

 such as the field sparrow and grass-finch, change color 

 in fall, becoming snow-birds, which they remain until 

 spring, when they don their other dress and again 

 become sparrows. 



The question is easily answered by any one who 

 will give the matter a little thought. The snow-bird 

 nests from Michigan and Wisconsin northward, and 

 in autumn many of them stop with us to spend the 

 winter instead of all going farther south as is the 



