BIRDS OF THE NORTHERN STATES 319 
567 Slate-colored Junco. Length 6% inches. 
A bird of genteel appearance coming in flocks in spring and fall. 
Upper parts, throat, and breast slate-color; belly and outer tail feathers 
white. Female similar, but upper parts 
browner, throat and breast paler. The 
slate color of the breast changes very 
abruptly to the white of the belly, and 
this, together with the white outer tail 
feathers, makes it easy to recognize the 
Junco. Breeds from the northern part of 
the United States northward. Call note, 
istp; song, a sweet tinkle or jingle. Com- 
mon M. and occasional P. R. 
581 Song Sparrow. Length 6} inches, 
Distinguished by an abundance of 
blackish streaks on the sides of the whitish 
under parts and a large blotch in center 
of breast. Upper parts as in typical spar- 
rows but rather dark. Considered one of 
the sweetest singers of all our birds. Its 
refrain is short, the first part consisting of 
about three notes that might be written oleef, oleet, oleet, and these are 
followed by an untranslatable little warble. Most common in shrub- 
bery near the water, but it never 
has much company.. Nest, on 
the ground orin bushes. Is with 
us and sings all summer. Com- 
mon S.R. 
Sonc SPARROW 
604 Dickcissel. Length 63 
inches. 
Back of bird streaky, spar- 
Digecrseet row-like; breast yellow; a con- 
spicuous black patch on the 
throat and, above that, a white chin; a yellow line over the eye. The 
colors of the female are duller; no black mark on the throat. The 
Dickcissel is found only in an occasional section, and then in weedy 
