DESCRIPTIVE LIST 243 



Atkinson records it from Raleigh on the strength of a specimen in the collection 

 of J. L. Busbee, and Cairns took a young male in Buncombe County, October 16, 

 1889. S. C. Bruner took a third specimen at Raleigh, April 14, 1912, and on Octo- 

 ber 18, 1913, he found the species not uncommon at Stuart, Va., only six miles north 

 of the North Carolina line. 



235. Zonotrichia albicollis (GmeL). WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. 



Description. Superciliary stripe yellow in front; edge of wing yellow; breast ashy, throat 

 white or whitish; head striped black-and-white in full plumaged adults; immature specimens 

 with head striped brown-and- whitish, the latter being the condition of most of the birds observed 

 by us. Extreme measurements of 26 Raleigh specimens: L., 6.25-7.10; W., 2.85-3.15; T., 2.90-3.15. 



Range. Eastern North America, breeding from northern United States northward. 



Range in North Carolina. -Whole State in winter. 



This is an abundant winter visitor throughout the State, arriving from the north 

 about the middle of October, and leaving about May 15. It is common almost 

 anywhere in thickets or low scattering bushes, in town or country. In fall it feeds 

 largely on berries, such as dogwood in the woods and frost grapes in the low- 

 grounds. Weed seeds also constitute a considerable portion of its diet. Although 

 not essentially an insect eater, it nevertheless destroys many. 



It is in song when it arrives in North Carolina, but is silent through the colder 

 weather, commencing again on warm days in February and singing fairly con- 

 stantly through March, April, and May. The song is plaintive and quite pleasant. 

 In the White Mountains it is often called "Peabody Bird," and in Canada "Sweet- 

 Canada Bird." 



Genus Spizella (Bonap.) 



A genus of small sparrows; with the tail slightly forked or notched, three species 

 of which have been attributed to the State. * 



KEY TO SPECIES 



1. Wings with two conspicuous white bands; a dusky spot on breast; length usually more than 

 6 inches. Tree Sparrow. 



1. Wings without two conspicuous white bands; no dusky spot on breast; length usually less 



than 6 inches. See 2. 



2. Wings longer than tail; a blackish stripe through eye. Chipping Sparrow. 



2. Wings and tail about same length; no blackish stripe through eye. Field Sparrow. 



236. Spizella monticola monticola (Gmel.}. TREE SPARROW. 



Description: Ads. No black on the forehead; an indistinct black spot on the center of the 

 breast; top of head rufous-brown, sometimes edged with ashy; a grayish line over the eye and a 

 rufous brown line behind it; back streaked with rufous-brown, black, and pale ochraceous-buff; 

 rump pale grayish brown; greater and middle wing-coverts tipped with white; outer web of the 

 outer tail-feather whitish; breast grayish white; middle of the belly white; sides tinged with pale 

 grayish brown; upper mandible black; lower, yellow at the base, the tip black. L., 6.36; W., 

 2.99; T., 2.82; B., .41. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.*) 



Range. Eastern United States from Virginia northward in winter; breeds in northern Canada. 



Range in North Carolina. So far, attributed only to Chapel Hill and Andrews. 



The Tree Sparrow has been seldom recorded from North Carolina, and none are 

 known to have been actually taken. Mrs. Wilson reports it in winter at Andrews 



*The specimen identified by Atkinson at Chapel Hill as a Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) is still 

 in existence, but is actually a Swamp Sparrow, (Melospiza georgiana). 



