THE SPARROWS 303 
a dark-colored bird, but underneath it is dull white. Like 
the snow bunting, it goes in small flocks, and in winter feeds 
chiefly upon weed-seeds and grain. It breeds in our northern 
states, and in winter migrates southward almost to the Gulf 
of Mexico. Altogether, thirteen species and varieties of 
Juncos are recognized in North America, and they are at 
home all the way from Alaska to Mexico and the Gulf. Dur- 
ing the long snow spell of February, 1914, eighteen Juncos, 
four blue-jays and two white-throated sparrows fed at the 
bird’s table just outside my office window. 
THe Sparrows.—There was a time when in America it 
was not only respectable but even honorable to be a Sparrow; 
but during the past twenty years the doings of one alien spe- 
cies, most unwisely introduced here, have tended to bring 
the name into disrepute. How our native species must hate 
the interloper! But we protest that our native Sparrows are 
as sweet-voiced and interesting as ever they were; and as 
wholesale destroyers of noxious weeds they are unsurpassed. 
After a careful investigation of the quantity of weed-seeds con- 
sumed in Iowa by the TREE Sparrow,! Professor F. E. L. Beal 
calculated the total amount for one year to be 1,750,000 pounds, 
or about 875 tons! Practically without exception all our Spar- 
rows are diligent consumers of the seeds of noxious weeds. 
If you doubt the vocal powers of Sparrows go with me to 
the country roads, and listen for three minutes to the delicious 
melody that pours from the quivering throat of a Sone 
Sparrow.2. When he feels well he will perch on the top of a 
1 Spi-zel'la mon-ti-co‘la. Length, 6 inches. 
2 Mel-o-spi'za fas-ci-a’ta. Length, 6.50 inches. 
