Birds of Massachusetts. 157 
The YrrLow-sHovuLpERED Sparrow, Fringilla 
savannarum, comes from Mexico and the West- 
India islands, where it passes the winter. It pays us 
a passing visit, when it attracts some attention by its 
song ; but it soon hurries on to some other breeding- 
place. "While here, it prefers the neighborhood of 
the sea, where it explores newly ploughed fields in 
search of insects and seeds. It never retires to the 
Woods. 
The Trer-SParrow, Fringilla Canadensis, ar- 
rives from the north at the approach of winter, and 
remains here during most of that season. It is called 
the snow-bird, by many, and is often seen in com- 
pany with the blue snow-bird. When the deep 
shows cut off their resources for food, they come 
together into our yards and under our windows, and 
generally succeed in obtaining some small charity 
from man. Early in spring they prepare for their 
return, but delay it on various pretexts; till, a day 
or two before their departure, they recover their 
voices, and sing sweetly from the trees of the or- 
chard. Audubon did not find them at Labrador; 
but he met with their nests in Nova Scotia, and 
his impression is, that they breed in thé northern 
parts of Maine. The tree-sparrows are easily distin- — 
guished from others, by the spot in the centre of the 
breast. 
The Curppine Sparrow, Fringilla socialis, is our 
most common bird, and so well known as hardly to 
need a description. It is found alike in the city 
