Song Sparrow SONG-BIRDS. 



The Juncos, whose habits are Sparrow-like, come to us 

 after the summer moulting, varying their return with the 

 weather. In 1893, they appeared September 25, but they 

 may be expected to increase in number from this date until 

 late October, while in November they go off on excursions 

 in little parties, a habit that they keep up all winter. 



You cannot fail to name the Junco, with his sad-coloured 

 coat, light vest and tail feathers; his cheerful habits will 

 allow you to become quite intimate with him before winter 

 is over, for he will come freely to the door for food, and 

 is a frequenter of city parks and even back yards. 



Juncos are winter residents upon whom we can always 

 depend, although the numbers vary greatly. A small flock 

 has lodged for many seasons in the evergreen honeysuckles 

 about the house, and one bitterly cold February, when 

 every seed was frozen down, a number came into the barn, 

 feeble and exhausted, and pecked about the grain bin, 

 mutely waiting for food ; nor were they disappointed. 



Together with the Chickadee they are frequently to be 

 seen around the kennels, where the dogs always treat them 

 with courtesy. They usually leave in early April, but some- 

 times lingering into May, they let us hear their song before 

 they go northward for their wooing. 



Song Sparrow : Melospiza fasciata. 



Plate 30. Fig. 1. 



Length : 6-6. 50 inches. 



Male and Female: Brown poll, somewhat striped. Above gray and 

 brown, thickly striped. Gray stripe over eye ; brown stripe each 

 side of throat ; dark stripes across upper breast, forming a 

 black spot in front. Beneath gray, slightly striped. Bill dark 

 brown ; feet pale brown. 



Song: " Olit, olit, olit, — chip, chip, chip, che-char, — che-wiss, wiss, 

 wiss 1 " (Thoreau, " Walden.") " Maids, maids, maids, hang 

 on your teakettle-ettle-ettle ! " (A local interpretation. Tho- 

 reau, " Summer.") 



Season : March until November. Individuals remain through the year. 



Breeds : From Virginia and the northern portion of the Lake States 

 northward. Sometimes three broods are reared. 

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