PASSERES - FRINGILLIDAS - FRINGILLA. 
153 
THE WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW. 
Fringilla leucophrys. 
PLATE LX. FIG. 137 (Male). FIG. 139 (Female). 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Emberiza leucophrys , Gmelin. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 355, pi. 1G (male). Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 4, 
p. 49, pi. 31, fig. 4. 
F . (Spiza ) id . Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 107. Audubon, fol. pi. 114. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 
1, p.479; ambigua? In. (winter plumage?). 
F . (Zonotrichia) leucophrys . Rich. &. Swainson, ?. B. A. Vol. 2, p.255. KibTLaND, Zool. Ohio, p. 183. 
F . id . Peabody, Mass. Rep p. 321. Audubon, B. of A. Vol.3, p. 157, pi. 192. 
White-crowned Finch . Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 123. 
Characteristics. Head white; line surrounding the crown, and through the eye, black ; 
beneath pale ash : vent ochreous. Female: Crown rufous, somewhat 
lighter in the centre. Length, seven inches. 
Description. Bill acute, very faintly notched near the tip. Third quill longest. Tail 
nearly even, 1*8 longer than the lips of the closed wings, with its feathers acuminate. 
Color. Tips of the wing-coverts white, forming two interrupted bars across the wings. 
Outer webs of the primaries whitish. Interscapular region brown, varied with soiled white. 
Head white, surrounded by four longitudinal black bands ; that through the eye, occasionally 
interrupted ; and, according to Audubon, the white head becomes dusky in winter. Female: 
line over the head and through the eye rufous brown ; cheeks light brown ; tail beneath obso- 
letely barred with dusky. Young : the head ashen, with the bands greyish brown ; beneath 
yellowish white : at the second moult, the head becomes yellowish brown and the bands 
darker. 
Length, 6-5-7'5. Alar spread, 10'0-10 - 5. 
This northern sparrow is rather a rare species in this State. The male figured in the plate 
was shot at Monticello, Sullivan county, in the autumn. Audubon observed them near New- 
York in May. It breeds north of the United States, although it is possible that it may be 
discovered to breed in this State. The eggs are light sea-green, thickly spotted yvitli reddish 
browm towards the larger end: the nest is placed on the ground. It enters the Union on the 
approach of winter, and is found as far south as 28° north latitude, from whence it ranges 
to the 68th parallel. 
[Fauna — Part 2.] 
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