SPARROWS, ETC. 



Grosbeaks, Finches and Sparrows are included in 

 one family, and so we find classed together, the bril- 

 liant Cardinal, sunshiny Goldfinch, and plain little 

 Chippy. While these differ greatly in form, color 

 and habits, they are all alike in being seed-eaters, and 

 have stout, conical bills, admirably adapted to cracking 

 seeds. 



The dull-colored birds live generally in open fields 

 where their brownish, striped coats make them almost 

 invisible to enemies, while those of brighter plumage 

 find it safer to keep under the cover of trees. 



All these birds feed largely on insects in summer, 

 but the rest of the year they live almost entirely on 

 seeds of weeds and grasses. Their economic value 

 as destroyers of the seeds of injurious plants cannot 

 be overestimated. 



Those of this family resident here in summer are 

 the Indigo-bird, Blue and Cardinal Grosbeaks, Che- 

 wink, Goldfinch, Song, Field, Vesper, Chipping, 

 Grasshopper, and Henslow's Sparrows. Several of 

 .these remain through the winter. (See list of winter 

 birds, page 189.) 



American Goldfinch; Thistle-bird: Astragalinus 

 tristis. 



Length 5 inches. 

 Male, whole body bright yellow. 



Cap, wings and tail black, with some white markings. 

 Female, brownish, without black cap, her wings and tail 

 dark brown. 



Resident (common) all the year. 



It is easy to know the merry Goldfinches from other 

 yellow birds by the black wings and tail, and the 



