148 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
Description. Bill short, stout; the notch on the upper mandible scarcely apparent under 
the lens : gape-line not extending to beneath the eyes. Third and fourth primaries longest. 
Tail long, 1 • 5 longer than the tips of the wings; the lateral tail-feathers slightly curved 
outwards. 
Color. Head, chin and throat leaden black, slightly tinged with grey or brown. Beneath 
white. Quills with their outer webs white ; secondaries edged with brown. The two outer 
tail-feathers on each side wholly white; the next with a long spot of white. Female, light 
greyish brown, without the blackish head and neck, smaller than the male ; outer tail-feathers 
white. 
Length, 5’5-6‘5. Alar spread, 8'5-9'0. 
The Snow-bird occurs in this State at all seasons of the year. It is a shy timorous bird, 
and hence is rarely seen except during snow-storms, when it appears in flocks close to dwel¬ 
lings. It is a northern species. It breeds, acording to Dr. Brewer, among the mountains in 
Oswego county, and doubtless in other parts of the State.* It makes its nest on the ground, 
and lays about four spherical yellowish white eggs sprinkled with reddish brown dots. It 
breeds as far south as Virginia. It feeds on grass-seeds, berries, insects and their larvae. 
The Snow-bird migrates in the night from the north, and descends as low as the 30th 
parallel of latitude. It has been noticed by Dr. Richardson as high as 57° north latitude, 
where, however, it appears to be only a summer resident. It is common to America and the 
northern parts of Europe. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL) 
S. oreganus. (Aud. B. of Am. Vol. 3, p. 91, pi. 168. Giraud, B. of Tex.) Back dark reddish 
brown; wings and tail dusky; bill reddish white; neck, head and breast black. Female: Head 
and neck blackish grey; sides pale reddish brown. Length, six inches. Columbia river, Texas. 
Its nests have since been observed in the Catskill mountains, and at Greenbush opposite Albany. 
