THE SPARROW TRIBE AND ITS KIN 105 



of his tail serve as signals to his friends to follow. Such 

 signals are specially useful when birds are migrating; with- 

 out them, many stragglers from the flocks might get lost. 

 Juncos, which are extremely sociable birds, except when 

 nesting, need help in keeping together. A crisp, frosty 'tsiy 

 call-note signifies alarm and away flies the flock. They are 

 quiet, unassuming visitors, modest in manner and in 

 dress; but how we should miss them from the winter land- 

 scape! 



The Snowflake 



In the northern United States and Canada, it is the 

 snowflake or snow bunting, a sparrowy little bird with a 

 great deal of white among its rusty brown feathers and an 

 exaggerated white eyebrow that runs around the cheek 

 also, that is the familiar winter visitor. Instead of hop- 

 ping, like most of its tribe, it walks over the frozen fields 

 and rarely perches higher than a bush or fence rail, for it 

 comes very near being a ground bird. Delighting in icy 

 blasts and snow storms, flocks of these irrepressibly cheer- 

 ful little foragers fatten on a seed diet picked up where 

 other birds would starve. 



The Fox Sparrow 



Length — 6.5 to 7.25 inches. Nearly an inch longer than 

 the English sparrow. 



Male and Female — ^Upper parts reddish brown, varied with 

 ash-gray, brightest on lower back, wings, and tail. 

 Bluish slate about the head. Underneath whitish; the 

 throat, breast, and sides heavily marked with arrow- 

 heads and oblong dashes of reddish brown and blackish. 



