Birds of Indiana. 963 



In September they begin to collect into flocks, and are found in 

 great nnmbers among the weeds and brier patches. The latter part 

 of that month they mostly leave northern' Indiana, and through Octo- 

 ber all disappear from our northern counties, and most of those from 

 farther south. There, howeyer, some remain well into November, 

 even when they do not winter. The latest fall records I have are 

 Chicago, 111., September 30, 1895; Lafayette, Ind., October 13, 1896; 

 Brookville, November 11, 1886. 



132. Gekus JUNCO Wagleh. 



a'. Sides grayish. J. hyemalis (Linn.). 222 



a^. Sides biownish. J. hyemalis sh\ifeldti Coale. 223 



222. (567). Junco hyemalis (Linn.). 



Slate-colored Junco. 



Adult Male. — Upper parts, throat and breast, blackish or slate- 

 gray; in winter washed with brownish above; belly, abruptly white; 

 two outer tail feathers and part of third, on each side, white; bill, 

 flesh color. Adult Female. — Similar, but upper parts browner and 

 throat and breast paler. Young. — First plumage, streaked above and 

 below with black. 



Length, 6.00-7.00; wing, 3.15-3.65; tail, 3.00-3.29. 



Eange. — North America, mostly east of the Eocky Mountains, 

 breeding on the higher Alleghany Mountains from Virginia, from the 

 mountains of southern New England and northern Minnesota to 

 Alaska. In winter, south over the eastern United States to Gulf 

 States. Straggling westward to Arizona and California. 



Nest, on or near the ground; of grass, moss and rootlets, lined with 

 finer material. Uggs, 3-5; whitish, speckled with reddish-brown; .76 by 

 .58. 



The Slate-colored Junco over most of Indiana is known as the 

 Snowbird. In some localities, to distinguish it from the Snowfiake, 

 or Snow Bunting, which is termed "White Snowbird," it is called 

 Black Snowbird. 



From the middle to the last of September they begin to appear 

 in northern Indiana, arriving first about the lower end of Lake Mich- 

 igan. In the southern portion of the State, a few are seen from the 

 1st to the 20th of October. Their presence is. usually announced by 

 a sharp tchip, followed by a rapid chipping as it flies. Then the 

 dark, slate colored body and the conspicuous white feathers on 



