ONTARIO. 



stripe bounding the indefinitely pure white throat, sharply contrasted with 

 the dark ash of the breast and sides of the neck and head. Edge of wing 

 yellow. Back continuously streaked with black, chestnut and fulvous- 

 white ; rump ashy, unmarked. Wings much edged with bay, the white tips 

 of the median and greater coverts forming two conspicuous bars ; quills and 

 tail-feathers dusky, with pale edges. Below white, shaded with ashy-brown 

 on sides, the ash deeper and purer on the breast ; bill dark ; feet pale. 

 Female and immature birds with the black of head replaced by brown, the 

 white of throat less conspicuously contrasted with the duller ash of 

 surrounding parts, and frequently with obscure dusky streaks on the breast 

 and sides. Length, 6^-7^ ; wings and tail, each about 3. 



HAB. Eastern North America, west to the Plains, north to Labrador 

 and the Fur Countries. Breeds in Northern Michigan, Northern New York 

 and Northern New England, and winters from the Middle States southward. 



Nest, among the bushes, on or near the ground ; composed of weeds, 

 grass and moss, lined with fibre and thread-like rootlets. 



Eggs, 4 to 6 ; variable in color and pattern, usually grayish-white, 

 clouded and blotched with chocolate-brown. 



These beautiful Sparrows make their appearance in 

 Southern Ontario about the 2oth of April, and till the middle 

 of May are seen among the shrubbery and underbush, working 

 their way in small flocks towards their summer residence to the 

 north of us. Great numbers are said to go right on to the Fur 

 Countries, but many no doubt find suitable nesting places in 

 the intermediate districts. I firsc found them breeding near a 

 retired pond surrounded by tamaracks, in the township of 

 Dumfries, about thirty miles north-west of Hamilton. It was 

 towards the close of a warm day in the early part of July, and 

 the slanting rays of the setting sun were gilding the tops 

 of the tamaracks, while underneath the still waters of 

 the pond, enclosed in a deep natural basin, were shrouded 

 in gloom. There was little to break the stillness, till 

 a bird, mounting to the topmost twig of one of the trees, his 

 bill pointing upwards, his tail hanging limp and motionless, 

 and his whole attitude indicating languor and weariness, 

 drawled out the plaintive, familiar " Old Tom Peabody, Pea- 

 body." This song harmonized so perfectly with the surround- 

 ings that we felt at once he was at home. The hour, the 



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