300 american midland naturalist 



Robin. 



Merula migratorius. 



Thrush family. 



Length. 9.75 inches. 



Color. Above greenish gray; head black; throat streaked 

 black and white; under parts chestnut brown; wings and tail 

 dark brown. 



Song. Familiar to everyone; simple yet pleasing. 



Food. Insects and berries. 



Nest. Generally in orchards; apple trees favorite nesting 

 place; about ten feet from gound; large, formed of straw, leaves, 

 etc. and mud; lined with root fibers. 



Eggs. Five, rarely six; greenish blue. 



Habitat. All North America. 



Specific habitat. Orchards, lawns. 



Migration. March 10 to November 25. 



Sparrow, Song. 

 Melospiza melodia. 



Finch family. 



Length. 6.5 inches. 



Color. Upper, brown, dark brown and gray; crown brown 

 with stripe of gray ; under parts white ; sides streaked with brown. 



Song. Noted; conspicuous; varied; constant. 



Food. Destructive insects, canker worm, etc. 



Nest. Generally on ground; sometimes two or three feet in 

 bushes; well made; stout; lined with basket of grasses. 



Eggs. Five; clay white; uniformly spotted with blotches of 

 rust brown. 



Habitat. Eastern United States to western plains. 



Specific habitat. Cultivated places ; edges of woods ; meadows; 

 low grounds. 



Migration. March 10 to November 10. 



Sparrow, Field. 

 ^Spizella pusilla. 

 Finch family. | 



Length. 5.50 inches. 



Color. Crown rufous red ; back similar, slightly ashy ; beneath 

 white with yellow tinge; tail feathers edged with white. 

 Song. Cheery; little variety; .sometimes low. 



