51G APPENDIX. 



PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS. 



Snow Bunting. 



Plectrophanes nivalis Meyer, Tasch.; 1810. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, large. COLOR. Adult. Pure white, with middle of back, terminal half of tertiaries 

 and primaries, and under tail feathers, black. In winter, and Youny, Similar, but with the black more extended, and 

 the white above and black of back overwashed with reddish-brown which extends in a collar around neck. The females 

 are smaller and have less white. Iris, brown, bill and feet, black. 



Observations. Known by the black and white colors. Breeds in the far North; winters from Canada to Pennsylva- 

 nia. DIMENSIONS. Length, 6'75; stretch, 10'7o; wing, 4'15: tail, 2 P 85: bill, "40; tarsus, 'S5. 



Nests and Eygs. NESTS, placed on the ground, composed of grass, moss, etc. EGGS, four or five in number, oval in 

 form, ashy-white in color, spotted with yellowish-brown and lined and dotted with umber. 



HABITS. 



The Snow Buntings are very abundant in winter on barren tracts along our coast, as 

 far south as New Jersey, wandering inland during storms. They are gregarious but are 

 exceedingly restless birds, seldom remaining in one spot any length of time. The call note 

 is loud and sharp, not unlike the chirp of a young chicken. They remain with us until 

 April, when they depart on their northward journey. 



PLECTJIOPHANES LAPPONTCUS. 

 Lapland Longspur. 



Plectrophanes Lapponicus "SELBY." Bon., List.; 1838. 



SP. CH. Form, slender. Size, medium. Color. Adult male. Above, yellowish-brown streaked with dark-brown, 

 with collar on back of neck, chestnut. Head and neck all around, and semi-circular patch on breast, black. Outer tail 

 feathers, excepting basal portion of inner web, and under parts, white, streaked on sides with black. Short line over eye, 

 yellow. In winter, Female, and Young. Similar but much duller, being overwashed above with whitish; and in some young 

 the throat is scarcely black at all. 



Observations. Known by the black throat and white under parts. Breeds in the far North; winters in the Middle 

 Districts. DIMENSIONS. Length, 6'50; stretch, 1T25; wing, 3'45; tail, 2'45; bill, '45; tarsus, -75. 



HABITS. 



The Lapland Longspurs are found most commonly in early autumn, in company with 

 the Shore Lark, and with us, are seldom met with far from the shore, but they do not re- 

 main through the winter, evidently passing down our coast on their way to the West, 

 where they are abundant during the cold season. -In general habits, they resemble the 

 Snow Buntings, but seldom associate with them, at least, while in Eastern Massachusetts. 



SPIZELLA MONTIOOLA. 

 Tree Sparrow. 



Kpizella monticola BD., Birds N. A.; 1858 472. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, medium. Color. Adult. Ashy-hrowa above, becoming darker on the wings and tail. 

 Crown, maxillary spot, middle back which is streaked with whitish, wing coverts, and edge of tertiaries, bright rufous. 

 Beneath, ashy-white, tinged, especially on sides, with yellowish, with a single brown spot on breast. Young, similar but 

 duller. 



Observations. Known by the rufous erown and brown spot on breast. Breeds from Northern New England, north- 

 ward, wintering from Massachusetts to the Carolinas. DIMENSIONS. Length, 6'50; stretch, U 50; wing, 300; tail; 2 60; 

 bill, '45; tarsus, -85. 



Nesti and Eggs. NESTS, placed in bushes, composed of mud, grass, and hair. EGGS, four or five in number, oval in 

 firm, greenish-ash in color, spotted with reddish-brown. Dimensions from '55 x - 70 to '56 x '74. 



HABITS. 



The Tree Sparrow is among the most abundant of our spring and autumn migrants, 

 and during some winters, is very common in Eastern Massachusetts, but usually the great- 

 er portion go south of us. In general habits, this species resembles other Sparrows. 



ZQNOTRACHIA LEUCOPHRYS. 



White-crowned Sparrow. 



Zonotrachia leucophrys Sw. F. B. Am., II; 1831, 255. 



3i>. CH. Form, size and general coloration, similar to those of the White-throated Sparrow, described on page 98, hut 

 la'^ks the yellow on head and edge of wing, while the throat and entire plumage is more ashy, and the young have the 

 crown overwashed with reddish. DIMENSIONS. Length, 7 08; stretch, 10'50; wing,3'25; tail, 2 86; bill, '46; tarsus, -82. 



