76 THE SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 



A bushy pasture or undergrowth flanking the woods affords a suitable ref- 

 uge for the Field Sparrow, or else it finds lodgment along over-grown fences and 

 in the ephemeral sprouts which line the road. The bird is rather shy and retiring, 

 neither seekingthehaunts of mennorcourtingobservation in its bushlgipd haunts. 



According to Dr. Howard Jones, "The nests seem to be about equally 

 divided between the ground and the bushes. When in the former position a 

 little depression is chosen and the structure is neatly fitted into it with the rim 

 about level with the surrounding earth. When in the latter position it is 

 placed in any arrangement of twigs that will support it ; it is not built about and 

 cabled to them as is the nest of the Summer Warbler, but it is simply loosely 

 arranged upon the stems or wedged in among them so that it will not topple 

 over, and nearly always it can be lifted out without tearing it in the least. It 

 is seldom if ever over five feet from the ground, and commonly is within two 

 or three." Occasionally a nest is taken from the growing grass, which is so 

 complete in itself and so little adjusted to its surroundings that it looks as if it 

 might have been dropped there by a careless hand. 



In construction the nest is simple, but loose or compact according to the 

 skill of the owner. The illustration shows one of the best quality, compactly 

 built and plentifully supplied with horse-hair lining. Another taken the same 

 season from a clump of "suckers" seven feet high on the trunk of an apple tree, 

 was as flimsy as a Grosbeak's, a mere wisp of twisted grasses which held up 

 four eggs to easy inspection from below. 



No. 37- 



SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. 



A. O. U. No. 567. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Snow-bird; Eastern Snow-bird. 



Description. — Adult male in summer: Upper parts, throat and breast slaty 

 black, the bluish tinge lacking on wings and tail ; below, abruptly white from 

 the breast, the flanks ashy slate; the two outer pairs of tail-feathers entirely, and 

 the third pair principally white ; bill flesh-color, usually tipped with black. Adult 

 female: Similar to male; throat and breast paler; a brownish wash over the 

 upper parts, deepest on nape and upper back; wings brownish fuscous rather 

 than black, and sides tawny-washed. Adult male in winter, becoming like female, 

 but stiU distinguishable. Length 6.00-6.50 (152.4-165.1) ; wing 3.07 (78.); tail 

 2.80 (71. i) ; bill .49 (12.5). Female averages slightly smaller than male. 



Recognition Marks.^Sparrow size ; slaty or brownish black and white con- 

 trasting; white lateral tail-feathers. 



Nest, on the ground, usually under cover of a protecting root, log or the 

 like, composed of grasses, roots and trash, lined with fine grass or hair. Bggs, 



