CLASS AVES: ORDER PASSERBS. 



119 



and claim protection as among the most useful of our 

 songsters. 



Fringillidse.— The Finches* are distinguished by a short, 

 conical bill, usually notched. The Song-sparrows are our 

 earliest and latest musicians. Those nesting in the far 

 north pass the latitude of New England late in November, 

 and return in early March ; always in full song, with notes 

 " louder, clearer, and more vibratory than those that come to 

 us and remain to breed." f It nests both on the ground and 

 in trees, only the older birds selecting the latter, as though 

 taught by experience the greater security. 



Fig. 19S. 



Fig. 196. 



mek)cEia^ Song Sparrow. \. 



Cun'iro.-^ira levcopt^ra. 

 Ourvirostra aniericdna. 

 Ci-OBB Bin. J. 



The Cross Bill, when matured, has its mandibles lapping^ 

 though the young do not possess this peculiarity. While 

 this anomalous form does not unfit the bird for eating 



* The necessity of examining not only a great number of specimens of the same 

 bird, hut also those from different locaUties, is especially apparent in this family. 

 Each region of North America seems to possess a diiferent variety. So completely, 

 however, do the forms of a series of hundreds of specimens from different places 

 insensibly grade into one another, that eight species have been united in one by 

 recent authors 



t Individuals have been knovfn to sing " nine entirely different sets of notes," 

 usually uttering them one after another in the same order." 



6 



