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average must be considerably higher. The vegetable matter consumed 
consists of small weed seeds in which those of crab grass, lambs quarters, 
and ragweed predominate. It will be seen that a bird having these desirable 
qualities and coming into the immediate vicinity of the garden is most 
useful and one to be encouraged in every manner possible. 
561. Clay-coloured Sparrow. Spizella pallida. L, 5-20. A small sparrow with 
upper parts streaked in light buff and dark brown to crown, where a whitish median stripe 
is indicated. A faint collar of slaty suffusion about the back of the neck. White below, 
slightly tinged with buff on flanks. 
Distinctions. On account of size and habits only likely to be mistaken for the Chipping 
Sparrow; but the back is lighter than in that bird and more clay-coloured, and the rump 
instead of being faintly slaty is slightly olive-buff. 
Nesting. On ground or in bushes, in nest of grasses lined with hairs. 
Distribution. The interior of America. It is a prairie form extending north to the 
limits of the prairie provinces, and only of accidental occurrence in eastern Canada, except 
perhaps in the country adjoining the Manitoba boundary. 
A bird of the west; of rare occurrence in the western limits of the 
region treated of in this work. 
563. Field Sparrow. FR.—LE PINSON DES CHAMPS. Spizella pusilla. L, 6-68. 
A small sparrow of the same general colour as the Chipping, but with the colours subdued, 
suffused, and blended. The red crown is darker and inconspicuous and there is no line of 
biack through the eye. The bili is cinnamon coloured instead of black. 
Distinctions. The above distinctions are sufficient to distinguish this bird. 
Field Marks. Dull reddish crown, lack of facial marks other than a touch of red on 
ends of ear coverts, and cinnamon-coloured bill. The song is its most easily recognized 
characteristic and when learned is the best means of identification. 
Nesting. On ground or in low bushes, in nest of rather coarse grasses, weed stalks, 
and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and hair. 
Distribution. Eastern America; in Canada including most of the settled sections, 
but rather local in distribution and unaccountably absent from some localities well within 
its range. 
SUBSPECIES. The Field Sparrow is divided into an eastern and western subspecies; 
the former, the type form, is the only one occurring in eastern Canada. 
The Field Sparrow is an inconspicuous bird and though often very 
common is so like a Chipping Sparrow with worn plumage that it may be 
mistaken for it. It is a bird of the open fields and fence rows and though 
uot shy or unusually retiring, must be looked for and listened for to be 
ound. 
Economic Status. Very much like the Chipping Sparrow in food 
habits, taking a few more useful insects though not enough to perceptibly 
affect its usefulness. 
567. Junco. GRAYBIRD. BLACK SNOWBIRD. FR.—PINSON NIVEROLLE. Junco 
hyemalis. L, 6-27. Plate XX XIII B. 
Distinctions. Solid dark slate-grey above and on breast, cutting sharply against the 
white underparts. 
Field Marks. Sharp line of the dark breast against the white below, and white outer 
tail feathers which show in flight. 
Nesting. On or near the ground in nest of grasses, moss, and rootlets lined with finer 
grasses and long hairs. 
Distribution. As a species, all of America to the tree limits. The Slate-coloured 
Junco extends west to Alberta. 
_SUBSPECIES. The Juncos are divided into a number of subspecies, only one of 
which, the Slate-coloured Junco, the type form, occurs in eastern Canada. 
