82 



VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



which they feed. Crossbills are about as large as the 

 Bluebird ; and there are two species in North America, 

 the Red Crossbill and the White-winged Crossbill, 

 the latter having white bands upon the wings. 



Sparrows are plain-colored 

 birds, generally dull brown, 

 variously striped and marked, 

 and are the most common 

 in open fields, orchards, and 

 about low bushes. There 

 are many kinds in North 

 America, all of which are 

 small, the largest scarcely Fig ' 136 Song Sparrow ' 

 equalling the common Bluebird in size. Some of the 

 principal kinds are the Bay-winged Bunting, the Yel- 

 low-winged Sparrow, the White-crowned Sparrow, the 

 White-throated Sparrow, the Black Snow-Bird, the 

 Tree Sparrow, the Chipping Sparrow, the Song Spar- 

 row, the Swamp Sparrow, the Fox-colored Sparrow, &c. 

 The Grosbeaks have the bill 

 very large, and hence their name, 

 which means great beak. The 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of 

 the most beautiful of the North 

 American birds. It is smaller than 

 a robin, and the color is black and 

 white, the breast a rich carmine. 

 The female has no black or car- 

 mine. The song is loud, clear, 

 and sweet. 



The Ground Robin, Towhe Bunt- 

 ing, or Cliewink, is about two 

 Fig. 137. Rose-breasted thirds as large as a robin, the 

 Grosbeak. co i or black and white. The fe- 



