ONTARIO. 



Nest, on the ground, rarely in a bush above it ; composed of strips of 

 bark, grass and rootlets, lined with moss and hair. 



Eggs, 4 to 5 ; greenish-white, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown. 



In Southern Ontario the "White Bill," as this species is 

 familiarly called, may fairly be considered resident, for 

 although it is most numerous in April and October, yet it 

 breeds commonly throughout the country, and a few are always 

 observed remaining during the winter. 



It is a very familiar species, showing a marked partiality 

 for rocky ravines, quarries and stone heaps. It is also com- 

 mon by the roadsides, and in gullies and other unculti- 

 vated places, but in the dense bush it is seldom seen, 

 until we come to a spot where men and horses have been at 

 work felling and hauling timber. In such a place at all seasons, 

 its white tail feathers are almost sure to be seen flirting about 

 among the brush. The ordinary note of this species is a 

 simple "chip" like the sound produced by striking two pebbles 

 together, but in the spring the male has a rather pleasing little 

 song, with which he cheers his mate while they are fitting up 

 their home. 



GENUS MELOSPIZA BAIRD. 



222. MELOSPIZA FASCIATA (GMEL.). 581. 



Song Sparrow. 



Below white, slightly shaded with brownish on the flanks and crissum, 

 breast and sides with numerous dusky streaks, with brown edges, coalescing 

 to form a pectoral blotch and maxillary stripes bounding the throat ; crown 

 dull bay, with fine black streaks, divided and bounded on either side by 

 ashy-whitish lines ; vague brown or dusky and whitish markings on the 

 sides of the head ; the interscaoular streaks black, with bay and ashy- white 

 edgings ; rump and cervix grayish-brown, with merely a few bay marks ; 

 wings with dull bay edgings, the coverts and inner quills marked like the 

 interscapulars ; tail obviously longer than the wings, pale brown, with 

 darker shaft lines on the middle feathers at least, and often with obsolete 

 wavy markings. Length, 6-6 ; wing, about -z\ ; tail, about 3. 



HAB. Eastern United States to the Plains, breeding from Virginia and 

 the northern portion of the Lake States northward. 



223 



