372 SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 



vinces, west to Utah; winters in northern 

 S. A., south in Sept., north in May. Fre- 

 quents meadows and moist, grassy fields. 

 Nests, on grounds. Food, seeds and insects. 

 A well-known rollicking song, a blackbird- 

 like chirp and a metalic clink when migra- 

 ting. Flight, slow with down drooping 

 wings and quick wing-beats. Gregarious 

 when migrating, assembling in large flocks. 



SPARROWS AND FINCHES. 



Generally robust birds, with short, 

 thick bills. A wide -spread family with 

 numerous species. 



417. BLACK-THROATED BUNTING. 



Medium, 6.15; streaked above, un- 

 streaked beneath; ash-yellow on back, white 

 below, yellow on breast, black spot on 

 throat, fig. 298. Female, duller. Breeds 

 in U. S. between Alleghanies and Rockies, 

 now rare in eastern section. Winters in Mex. 

 and Central America. Nests in trees and 

 bushes; eggs, 3-5. Song, a lisping twitter. 



