20 



wintered here, but I have failed to find them except in the vicinity 

 of private residences where an abundance of evergreens afford them 

 a suitable shelter." 



Dimensions. Average measurements of eighteen specimens : length, 

 6-74; stretch, 9'46; wing, 2-89; tail, 2-86; culmen, -50; gape, -54; 

 tarsus, -90; middle toe, -66; middle toe and its claw, -88. 



87. Zonotrichia leucophrys (Forster}. WHITE-CROWNED SPAR- 

 ROW. A rather rare spring and fall migrant. Observed from May 18 

 (1877) to 23 (1876). Mr. Thomas W. Wilson has taken specimens, at 

 Cold Spring, on the Hudson, on October 12 and 16, 1875, and May 12, 

 1876. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of two adult females (Nos. 

 1,177 and 1,181, Highland Falls, N. Y., May 23, 1876, E. A. M.) : 

 length, 6-88; stretch, 9-82; wing, 3-03; tail, 2-88; culmen, -50; tarsus, 

 85; middle toe and its claw -81. 



88. Passer domesticus (Linne). EUROPEAN HOUSE SPARROW. 

 Introduced. Kesident; breeds. It is a pest, here, as everywhere. 

 All intelligent landholders shoot it whenever it appears on their 

 premises. The grape-growers are especially vindictive against it. 

 My gardener complains that it destroys his green peas. 



During winter, the English Sparrows frequent the marshes along 

 the Hudson, in large flocks; but, in general, they make their homes in 

 the towns, whence they sally forth to depredate in the country around ; 

 but to return to the protection of their city homes at the slightest 

 alarm. 



Mr. William Church Osborn furnishes the following interesting ob- 

 servation on its habits : " An adult male Yellow-bellied Woodpecker 

 (Sphyrapicus varius*) was taken dead, in a back yard on 3$th-street, 

 New York City. It was overcome, after a stout resistance, by the 

 united attack of a number (twenty-two were counted that engaged in 

 the affair) of English Sparrows, one of their number having been left 

 dead upon the field along with the luckless Woodpecker." 



Dimensions. Average measurements of fifteen specimens : length, 

 6-33; stretch, 9-72-; wing, 3-01; tail, 2-30; culmen, -50; gape, -60; 

 tarsus, -76; middle toe, -63; its claw, *21. 



89. Passerella iliaca (Merrem). Fox SPARROW. An abundant 

 spring and fall migrant. In spring, arrives early in March, and stays 

 till about the middle of April (March, 25, 1871; 21, 1873; 5 to April 

 30, 1874; 16 to April 28, 1875; 6 to April 14, 1876; 23 to April 2, 1877; 

 February 28 to April 4, 1878 ; March 12 to April 10, 1879 ; March 6 to 

 April 8, 1880). In autumn, arrives towards the end of October, and 

 stays till about the first of December (October 22 to November 25, 

 1874; October 28, 1876; November 9 to December 8, 1877; October 

 26, 1878; October 26 to November 30, 1879). 



This handsome species is the largest of our Sparrows, and the first 



