i 
BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. 829 
No bird-notes of my own, or of my correspondents, fail to 
embrace this species in localities according with its well-known 
habits everywherein the State. Itis, however, not a numerous 
species. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Bill red; crown continuous rufous red. Back somewhat simi- 
lar, streaked with blackish. Sides of head and neck, including 
asuperciliary stripe, ashy; ear coverts rufous; beneath white, 
anteriorly tinged with yellowish; tail feathers and quills faintly 
edged with white. Two white bands across the wing coverts. 
Length, 5,75; wing, 2.35. 
Habitat, Kastern United States and southern Canada, west 
to the plains. 
JUNCO HYEMALIS (L.). (567.) 
SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 
The snow-birds are so extensively distributed, and every- 
where so well known, that any one at all acquainted with 
them will expect to find them included in our Minnesota. 
birds. They may be listed as permanent residents, at least 
along our southern borders, where belts of timber between 
sheltering bluffs and along water-courses afford more favorable 
quarters during the severest weather. At the locality from 
which I write they are rarely seen in winter, but come in force 
variously from the 20th of March to the first of April, whenone 
who ‘‘sees birds at all” must be prepared to have them spring 
up from almost any slightly protected ambush, and almost 
from under his feet, and simultaneously dash into the nearest 
thicket or brush-heap, to cautiously slip out of the hastily- 
chosen covert, one at a time, and flit to a safer distance, if not 
better hiding place. They usually, as a kind of feathered 
courtesy, or sort of a courtship, have mingled with them more‘ 
or less abundantly, some of the other sparrows, amongst which 
are the White-crowned, Fox-colored, Clay-colored, Song and 
Tree Sparrows, etc. They have only a chipping note, while 
thus abundant, that very much resembles the true chippies (spi- 
zella socialis). By the first week in May the principal part 
of them have disappeared. They breed extensively in the north 
part of the State, and exceptionally in many others affording 
favorable conditions. Their principal food consists of larvee 
and insects, especially small beetles, but they are quite omniv- 
orous, devouring many kinds of seeds as well. 
