232 BIRDS OF NORTH CAROLINA 



combe County (where Cairns found it a common winter visitor, and also observed 

 it nesting on Black Mountain). 



In winter Pine Siskins go in flocks, feeding on various seeds and berries, includ- 

 ing those of the alder, pine, cedar, and trumpet-vine. At Raleigh C. S. Brimley 

 has found them most frequently eating alder seeds. 



PIG. 182. PINE SISKIX. 



The nest is said to be built in a coniferous tree as a rule, at a height of about 

 twenty-five feet from the ground. It is made of dry grasses and pine needles with 

 a lining of feathers, fine rootlets, or hair. The eggs are greenish white or pale 

 greenish blue in ground-color, spotted with various shades of brown, but usually 

 quite faintly marked. Average size .63 x .50. The usual complement of eggs is 

 three or four. 



Ludlow Griscom writes: " Don't know how often Siskins reach North Carolina, 

 but saw eighteen on January 1, 1917; flock of ten near Currituck Court House, 

 and a flock of five and three singles flying south over the beach earlier in the day." 



Genus Passer (Briss.) 

 219. Passer domesticus domesticus (Linn.). ENGLISH SPARROW. 



Description: Ad. male. Crown gray, bordered from the eye backward and on the nape by 

 chestnut; lesser wing-coverts chestnut, middle coverts tipped with white; back streaked with 

 black and chestnut; rump ashy; middle of the throat and breast black; sides of the throat white; 

 belly whitish. Ad. female. Head and rump grayish brown; back streaked with black and deep 

 ochraceous-buff ; underparts dirty whitish, the breast and sides washed with pale grayish brown. 

 L., 6.33; W., 3.01; T., 2.30; B., .48. (Chap., Birds o/E. N. A.) 



Range in United States. Nearly all inhabited districts. 



Range in North Carolina. Virtually the whole State, especially in towns and villages. 



The English Sparrow, more correctly named the European House Sparrow, is 

 an abundant bird in the more thickly settled parts of the State, and, so far as we 

 are aware, first appeared at Raleigh about 1879, since which time it has steadily 

 increased both in numbers and extent of territory occupied. At present, so far as 

 we know, Highlands, Macon County, is the only town of any size where it does 

 not now occur. At Blowing Rock in Watauga County, another mountain town, it 

 did not appear until 1907. However, there is no doubt that it will shortly reach 

 the few settled localities where it has not yet established itself. 



Although universally considered to be a nuisance, this bird has some redeeming 

 qualities. It will devour cabbage-worms to a considerable extent, and has also 



