400 FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
Nest, of rather coarse grasses, weed stalks, rootlets, etc., lined with fine 
grasses and long hairs, on the ground or in low bushes. Eggs, 3-5, white or 
bluish white, with numerous rufous markings, chiefly about the larger end, 
‘70 x ‘52. Date, Raleigh, N. C., May 4; Montgomery Co., May 5; 
New London, Conn., May 21; Cambridge, May 25; Wheedinte Ind., ‘Apl. 
30. 
Its bright rufous color, the absence of spots on its breast, and espe- 
cially its flesh-colored bill, are the best field-marks of this misnamed 
Sparrow, for he is not a true Field Sparrow, but prefers old pastures 
dotted with clumps of bushes or young cedars. There is something 
winning in his appearance; he seems such a gentle, innocent, dove- 
like little bird. His song is in keeping with his character, being an 
unusually clear, plaintive whistle, sweeter to the lover of birds’ songs 
than the voice of the most gifted songstress. It is subject to much, 
variation. Not only do the same individuals sing several different 
songs, but two individuals in the same locality rarely sing alike. There 
is also much variation in the songs of birds from different regions. For 
this reason it is quite impossible to give a description of the song which 
will apply throughout the bird’s range. However, an average song 
consists of the syllables chér-wéé, chér-wéé, chér-weé, chér-wéé, chéé-o, 
de-de-de-de-de, the last notes joined in a trill. 
This gives, of course, no idea of the quality of the Field Sparrow’s 
song, but to be convinced of its rare beauty one need only hear it as 
the sun goes down and the hush of early evening is quieting the earth. 
The Western Fietp SpaRROw (563a. Spizella pusilla arenacea), a pale 
form, has been recorded from the vicinity of New Orleans. 
567. Junco hyemalis hyemalis (Linn.). SLATE-coLORED Junco. Ad. 
o@.—Upperparts, throat, and breast grayish slate-color; upperparts more or 
ice washed with grayish brown; belly white, sides grayish: no wing-bars; tail 
fuscous, the two outer feathers and part of the third white; bill flesh-color. 
Ad. 9 .—Similar, but the upperparts browner, throat and breast paler. Ads. 
in winter.—Resemble ads. in summer but are more richly washed with brown- 
ish or rusty. Nestlings, resemble the adults, but have the upperparts, throat, 
and breast streaked with black. L., 6°27; W., 3°03; T., 2°71; B., *41. 
Range.—. and n. N. Am. Breeds in Hudsonian ‘and Canadian zones 
in nw. Alaska (tree limit), n. Mackenzie (tree limit), cen. Keewatin, and cen. 
Ungava s. to base of Alaska Peninsula, s. Yukon, cen. Alberta, n. Minn., 
cen. Mich., Ont., and mts. of N. Y., Pa., and Mass.; winters throughout the 
e. U. 8. and s. Ont. s. to the Gulf coast; casual in Calif., Ariz., and N. M.; 
straggles to Siberia. 
Washington, abundant W. V., Sept. 26-May 12. Ossining, common W. 
V., Sept. 19-May 4. Cambridge, rather common W. V., abundant T. V., 
Sept. 20-Nov. 25; Mch. 20-Apl. 20. N. Ohio, abundant W. V., Oct. 2-May 
5. Glen Ellyn, W. V., abundant spring and fall, Aug. 30-May 13. SE. 
Minn., common T. V., Mch. 4— ; Sept. 20—Nov. 12. 
Nest, of grasses, moss and rootlets, lined with fine grasses and long hairs, 
on or near the ground. Eggs, 4-5, white or bluish white, finely and evenly 
speckled or spotted, sometimes heavily blotched at the larger end with 
a ee ‘76 x °58. Date, Wilmurt, N. Y., May 27; Grand Manan, N. 
., May 25. 
When the snow begins to fly, you will look out some gray morning 
to find a flock of small, plump, slate-colored birds hopping about the 
