TREE SPARROW.— Passer montdnus. 



Below the eye and over the ear-coverts there is a narrow black streak, and the breast and 

 abdomen are white, with a brown tinge, deepening on the flanks. In size the Tree 

 Sparrow is not so large as the common species, by nearly half an inch of length. 



The White-throated Spareow is an inhabitant of America, and is one of the partial 

 migrators, passing to and from the northern and southern portions of that continent, 

 according to the season of the year. 



Of this bird Wilson speaks as follows : " This is the largest as well as the handsomest 

 of all our Sparrows. It resides in most of the States south of New England. From 

 Connecticut to Savannah I found these birds numerous, particularly in the neighbourhood 

 of the Eoanoke river and among the rice plantations. In summer they retire to the 

 higher inland parts of the country, and also farther south, to breed. According to Pennant, 

 they are also found at that season in Newfoundland. During their residence here in 

 winter they collect together in flocks, always preferring the borders of swampy thickets, 

 creeks, and mill-ponds, skirted with alder bushes and long rank weeds, the seeds of which 

 form their principal food. 



Early in the spring, a little before they leave us, they have a few remarkably sweet 

 and clear notes, generally in the morning a little after sunrise. About the twentieth of 

 April they disappear, and we see no more of them until the beginning or second week of 

 October, when they again return, part to pass the winter with us, and part on their return 

 farther south." 



The colouring of this bird is very graceful. The upper surface of the body and the 

 lower wing-coverts are rather agreeably mottled with black, ashen brown, bay, and clear 



