98 Tue Ottawa NarTuratist. | [July 
The Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca, seen mostly during 
migration, is a large, stately sparrow, bright reddish-brown, 
especially the tail and similar spots, and streaks below. 
The TREE Sparrow, Sfzsella monticola, is also a northern 
breeder and is abundant in Ontario and southward in migration 
and winter only. It has the drzght chestnut crown of the Chippy, 
though a larger bird, and the dlackish-brown spot on the middle of 
the breast, like the Song Sparrow, but uo streaks around it. It 
is found in woods and thickets. 
Another winter visitor from the North is the SNOWFLAKE, 
Plectrophenax nivalis. This can at once be told by the preponder- 
ance of whzte in its plumage. 
A member of this family which, on account of its beauty 
would perhaps not be recognized as such, is the ROSE-BREASTED 
GRosBEAK, Zamelodia ludovictana. When it flies you see a xef- 
work of black and white on wings and tail ; head entirely black ; 
under the wings and atriangle on the breast a beautiful cherry- 
red; rest of under parts white. It frequents open woods and 
deciduous trees, park-like groves, etc. Its song is as fine as its 
plumage. It is larger than the English Sparrow and has a very 
thick whitish bill. | ; 
A speck of rich tropical coloration, as it were, is the INDIGO 
BunTING, Cyanopiza cyanea. It is rather scarce in the Ottawa 
district but commoner as one goes south. It is lustrous blue, 
deep indigo on the head and neck, lighter onthe back. The female 
is brown, with a tinge of blue on wings and tail. It likes to sit 
on telegraph wires or poles or dry branches, and pours forth a 
fine sustained medley of song, in quality like the perching song of 
the Goldfinch. In size it is like the Chippy, much smailer than 
the Bluebird. These are the common members of the Finch 
family. 
The next family of birds after the Finches is that of the 
Tanagers, of which we have but one member in Canada, and that 
‘one is so brilliant in coloration that it immediately attracts atten- 
tion. It is another bit of tropical luxuriance and prodigality of 
color transplanted to our sterner climate. This is the SCARLET 
TanaGer, Piranga erythromelas. The head and body are a bril- 
liant scarlet, the wings and tail black, thus making identification 
and remembrance of it very easy. This species seems to be in- 
creasing its numbers in Canada. This spring it was reported in 
more places and greater numbers than before. 
