400 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 



Nest, of rather coarse grasses, weed stalks, rootlets, etc., lined with fine 

 grasses and long hairs, on the ground or in low bushes. Eggs, 3-5, white or 

 bluish white, with numerous rufous markings, chiefly about the larger end, 

 70 x '52. Date, Raleigh, N. C., May 4; Montgomery Co., Pa., May 5; 

 New London, Conn., May 21; Cambridge, May 25; Wheatland, Ind., Apl. 

 30. 



Its bright rufous color, the absence of spots on its breast, and espe- 

 cially its flesh-colored bill, are the best field-marks of this misnamed 

 Sparrow, for he is not a true Field Sparrow, but prefers old pastures 

 dotted with clumps of bushes or young cedars. There is something 

 winning in his appearance; he seems such a gentle, innocent, dove- 

 like little bird. His song is in keeping with his character, being an 

 unusually clear, plaintive whistle, sweeter to the lover of birds' songs 

 than the voice of the most gifted songstress. It is subject to much 

 variation. Not only do the same individuals sing several different 

 songs, but two individuals in the same locality rarely sing alike. There 

 is also much variation in the songs of birds from different regions. For 

 this reason it is quite impossible to give a description of the song which 

 will apply throughout the bird's range. However, an average song 

 consists of the syllables cher-wee, ch&r-wee, ch&r-wee, ch$r-wee, chee-o, 

 de-de-de-de-de, the last notes joined in a trill. 



This gives, of course, no idea of the quality of the Field Sparrow's 

 song, but to be convinced of its rare beauty one need only hear it as 

 the sun goes down and the hush of early evening is quieting the earth. 



The WESTERN FIELD SPARROW (563a. Spizella pusilla arenacea), a pale 

 form, has been recorded from the vicinity of New Orleans. 



567. Junco hy emails hyemalis (Linn.). SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. Ad. 

 cf. Upperparts, throat, and breast grayish slate-color; upperparts more or 

 less washed with grayish brown; belly white, sides grayish; no wing-bars; tail 

 fuscous, the two outer feathers and part of the third white; bill flesh-color. 

 Ad. p. Similar, but the upperparts browner, throat and breast paler. Ads. 

 in winter. Resemble ads. in summer but are more richly washed with brown- 

 ish or rusty. Nestlings, resemble the adults, but have the upperparts, throat, 

 and breast streaked with black. L., 6'27; W., 3'03; T., 271; B., '41. 



Range. E. and n. N. Am. Breeds in Hudsonian and Canadian zones 

 in nw. Alaska (tree limit), n. Mackenzie (tree limit), cen. Keewatin, and cen. 

 Ungava s. to base of Alaska Peninsula, s. Yukon, cen. Alberta, n. Minn., 

 cen. Mich., Ont., and mts. of N. Y., Pa., and Mass.; winters throughout the 

 e. U. S. and s. Ont. s. to the Gulf coast; casual in Calif., Ariz., and N. M.; 

 straggles to Siberia. 



Washington, abundant W. V., Sept. 26-May 12. Ossining, common W. 

 V., Sept. 19-May 4. Cambridge, rather common W. V., abundant T. V., 

 Sept. 20-Nov. 25; Mch. 20- Apl. 20. N. Ohio, abundant W. V., Oct. 2-May 

 5. Glen Ellyn, W. V., abundant spring and fall, Aug. 30-May 13. SE. 

 Minn., common T. V., Mch. 4- ; Sept. 20-Nov. 12. 



Nest, of grasses, moss and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and long hairs, 

 on or near the ground. Eggs, 4-5, white or bluish white, finely and evenly 

 speckled or spotted, sometimes heavily blotched at the larger end with 

 rufous-brown, '76 x '58. Date, Wilmurt, N. Y., May 27; Grand Manan, N. 

 B., May 25. 



When the snow begins to fly, you will look out some gray morning 

 to find a flock of small, plump, slate-colored birds hopping about the 



