224 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



parts of the scaly anatomy. Certainly, there is no obvious reason why 

 the abdominal and neighboring pectoral portions of a " perch " should 

 be more palatable to the sprightly " White-eyed Jackdaw," as the native 

 Floridians are accustomed to term the species. 



The Bronzed Grackle (Q. quisculaceneus, Ridgw.)is the common Crow 

 Blackbird found in the western part of Pennsylvania west of the Alle- 

 gheny mountains. In eastern Pennsylvania this bird is rather rare. This 

 variety differs from the typical quiscula chiefly in having a uniform 

 brassy-colored body, and wings and tail purplish or violet, never bluish. 



FAMILY FRINGILLID^E. FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



THE SPARROWS, ETC. 



Over thirty species of this, the largest North American family, are found in Penn- 

 sylvania, either as residents, summer residents, regular spring and fall migrants, or 

 casual visitors. Some species, especially the male Grosbeaks, also the male Purple 

 Finch, Dickcissel, Indigo-bird, Towhee, Crossbills, Junco, Red-poll and Goldfinch 

 are highly colored, being conspicuously marked with either one or more of these col- 

 ors, red, yellow, black and blue ; others, in fact the majority, are plainly attired ; the 

 Snowflake, when found in this state, is showily dressed in a garb of white and brown. 

 The eyes, in all species other than the Towhee, which are red or yellowish, are brown 

 or hazel. During the breeding season these birds are commonly seen singly or in 

 pairs ; but, at other times, many of them, particularly the English Sparrow, Snowflake, 

 Red-poll, etc., are to be observed in large flocks, and small flocks or companies of all 

 but a few species, which occur here, are frequently seen in fields, woods, thickets or 

 in tangled weeds, grasses and briery places about streams and bushy swamps. Species 

 are also common and familiar visitors to our orchards, yards and gardens. They 

 subsist mainly on a vegetable diet, consisting largely of divers seeds ; but many of 

 them, especially the English Sparrow, the Rose- breasted, Pine and Evening Gros- 

 beaks, likewise the Purple Finch, the White-throated Sparrow and the two species 

 of Crossbills, feed extensively on buds and other soft vegetable substances. The 

 young of most, in fact nearly all, of these birds are fed largely on an insect diet, and 

 during the breeding season many of the adult Fringillidcc also subsist to a consid- 

 erable extent on different kinds of insect-life, particularly small larvae, flies, spiders 

 and the smaller beetles. Their nests are built usually in bushes or trees, but some 

 build on the ground. Nearly all of these birds sing, "with varying ability and 

 effect ; some of them are among our most delightful vocalists" (Coites). "Prima- 

 ries 9 ; bill very short, abruptly conical and robust. Commissure strongly angu- 

 lated at base of bill. Nostrils placed very high ; rictal bristles usually obvious : 

 wings usually rather long and pointed. Tarsi scutellate in front, but the sides with 

 two undivided plates meeting behind and producing a rather sharp posterior ridge. 

 Tail of twelve feathers, but variable in form." 



GENUS COCCOTHRAUSTES BRISSON. 

 Coccothraustes vespertina (Coop.). 



Evening Grosbeak. 



DESCRIPTION (.Plate 92). 



Bill very large and stout, over of an inch long and a little less in width at base ; 

 color greenish-yellow. 



Male. Forehead, line over eye, lower part of back and rump, under tail-coverts 

 and lower part of belly yellow ; crown, tibiae, tail and its upper coverts and wings 



