THE SPARROWS 303 



a dark-colored bird, but underneath it is dull white. Like 

 the snow bunting, it goes in small flocks, and in winter feeds 

 chiefly upon weed-seeds and grain. It breeds in our northern 

 states, and in winter migrates southward almost to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. Altogether, thirteen species and varieties of 

 Juncos are recognized in North America, and they are at 

 home all the way from Alaska to Mexico and the Gulf. Dur- 

 ing the long snow spell of February, 1914, eighteen Juncos, 

 four blue- jays and two white-throated sparrows fed at the 

 bird's table just outside my office window. 



The Sparrows. — There was a time when in America it 

 was not only respectable but even honorable to be a Sparrow; 

 but during the past twenty years the doings of one alien spe- 

 cies, most unwisely introduced here, have tended to bring 

 the name into disrepute. How our native species must hate 

 the interloper! But we protest that our native Sparrows are 

 as sweet-voiced and interesting as ever they were; and as 

 wholesale destroyers of noxious weeds they are unsurpassed. 

 After a careful investigation of the quantity of weed-seeds con- 

 sumed in Iowa by the Tree Sparrow', 1 Professor F. E. L. Beal 

 calculated the total amount for one year to be 1,750,000 pounds, 

 or about 875 tons! Practically without exception all our Spar- 

 rows are diligent consumers of the seeds of noxious weeds. 



If you doubt the vocal powers of Sparrows go with me to 

 the counlrv roads, and listen for three minutes to the delicious 

 melody that pours from the quivering throat of a Song 

 Sparrow.'- When he feels well he will perch on the top of a 



1 Spi-zel'la rrum-ti-co'la. Length, 6 inches. 



2 Mcl-o-spi'za jas-ci-a'ta. Length, 0.50 inches. 



