77 



insects, etc. Beneficial. A sweet singer ; song, a clear,, 

 plaintive trill. 



117. Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 



JUNCO. SNOWBIRD. 



Above, breast and throat, dark slate; belly and two outer tail feathers, ■ 

 white. Length, 6-ej inches. 



Common, sometimes abundant, winter resident. Earliest 

 arrival, September 23; latest departure, May 7. Feeds oni 

 seeds. Not injurious. Note, a sort of snapping chirp. 



118. Melospiza fasciata (Qmel.). 



SONG SPARROW. 



Above, brown thickly streaked with black and rufous; beneath, white 

 streaked with brownish-black; some of the streaks form a characteristic' 

 blotch at center of the breast. Length, 6i inches. 



Abundant summer resident. Earliest arrival, March 15 ;. 

 departs in November. Raises 2-3 broods. Eggs 8-6, bluish; 

 or brownish-gray, thickly spotted with dark brown. Nest of 

 grass, mud, stalks, hair, etc., on the ground or in low bushes. 

 Eggs laid, April to July. Feeds on seeds and insects. Ben- 

 eficial. A pleasant songster ; song, a short, clear whistle. 



119. Melospiza lincolni (Aud.). 

 LINCOLN'S SPARROW. 



Above, black, brown and gray; beneath, white; sides, band across breast 

 and under tail-coverts, buff streaked with black. Length, 6 inches. 



Rare, but probably regular, migrant in May and September 

 and October. Several specimens have been taken in May, but 

 so far as the records go, it has not occurred in the fall. Shy 

 and silent, it is naturally a very inconspicuous bird. 



120. Melospiza georgiana (Lath.). 



SWAMP SPARROW. 



Crown, bright bay blackening in front; above, thickly streaked witb 

 black and bay; beneath, clear ash. Length, 5} inches. 



