BIRDS OF 



Like the Snowflake, the present species is common to both 

 continents. They come and go together and keep company 

 while here ; but at all times the Snowflakes far exceed the 

 others in numbers. 



The male Longspur, in full breeding plumage, is a very 

 handsome bird. It is seldom found in Ontario in this dress, but 

 some years since two young men who were collecting at 

 Mitchell's Bay met with quite a large flock in the month of May 

 and got some very fine specimens, several of which came into my 

 possession. All those I have met have been in winter dress, in 

 which state the colors are obscured by the black feathers of the 

 head and breast being tipped with yellowish-grey. 



GENUS POOC^TES BAIRD. 



212. POOC^ETES GRAMINEUS (GMEL.). .540. 

 Vesper Sparrow. 



Thickly streaked everywhere above, on sides and across breast ; no 

 yellow anywhere ; lesser wing-coverts, chestnut, and one to three outer tail 

 feathers part or wholly white. Above, greyish-brown, the streaking dusky 

 and brown with greyish-white ; below, white, usually buffy-tinged, the 

 streaks very numerous on the fore-part and sides ; wing-coverts and inner 

 quills much edged and tipped with bay ; crown, like back, without median 

 stripe, line over and ring round eye, whitish ; feet, pale. Length, 5|-6J ; 

 wing, 2-3|; tail, 2|-2|. 



HAB. Eastern North America to the Plains, from Nova Scotia and 

 Ontario southward ; breeds from Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri northward. 



Nest, a deep cup-shaped hollow in the ground, lined with grass. 

 Eggs, 4 to 6 ; greyish-white, heavily clouded with chocolate-brown. 



This is one of the " Gray Birds," and the most abundant in 

 Ontario of the several species to which this name is applied. 



Its song is very sweet and plaintive, and being most fre- 

 quently uttered in the evening about sundown it has gained for 

 the bird the appropriate name of Vesper Sparrow. 



It is a summer resident, arriving in Southern Ontario toward 

 the end of April and soon becoming common all over the country. 

 The favorite perch of the male is the top of a fence post, and 



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