FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 888 



tions. Long fine grass is used in constructing the nest. 

 The hning may consist largely of horse hair. The back- 

 ground of the three or four eggs is pale bluish-green and 

 the markings are in the form of reddish spots, chiefly at the 

 larger end. Two broods are often reared in a season. In 

 the Great Lakes region these birds arrive from the south 

 about the middle of April and depart in October, though 

 their song is not often heard after the middle of July. 



SLATE-COLORED JUNCO 



The Junco ranges throughout North America, breeding 

 from northern Minnesota and New York northward and 

 along the Alleghany Mountains to Virginia, wintering 

 southward to the Gulf. 



This bird is commonly known as junco, or black snow- 

 bird. This is the only representative of the large junco 

 family east of the Rocky JNIountains. Like the vesper spar- 

 row, the outer tail feathers are white, serving as a con- 

 venient field mark. The upper breast is a dark mouse color 

 and the upper parts in the male are slaty gray, usually 

 slightly lighter than the coloring on the breast. The plu- 

 mage of the female is considerably lighter. The bill and 

 legs are pinkish or flesh color. 



Occasionally these sociable little fellows spend the winter 

 in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois and Indiana. 

 Were it not for our snowfalls, we would undoubtedly have 

 them with us as a winter resident. They feed upon the 

 ground, faintly calling to each other in a low little chirp, 

 occasionally bursting into a sweet song which is a favorite 



