NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 379 



557. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. Zonotrichia coronata (Pall.) Geog. 

 Dist.— Pacific coast region, from Southern California to Alaska; migrates east ir- 

 regularly to Rocky Mountains, casually to Wisconsin. 



The Golden-crowaed Sparrow is stated to breed in Northern California and 

 northward to Alaska. Its nesting is similar to that of gambeln and the eggs are 

 "colored like the more distinctly spotted of Z. leucophrys." 



558. WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmel.) Geog. 

 Dist.— Eastern North America, breeding from Nortnern United States nortuward; 

 west to the Plains; casually to Utah. 



A large, handsome sparrow, very similar to the White-crowned species. Breeds 

 in Northern Michigan, New York, and Northern New England northward; winters 

 from the Middle States southward. In the greater portion of Eastern United States 

 it is seen only during the migrations, or in the winter. In suitable places through- 

 out the three Northern New England States the White-throated Sparrow is a rather 

 common breeder, nesting in June. The nest is built on the ground, or, in exceptional 

 cases, in bushes, and among the branches of fallen trees. It may be built in a clear- 

 , ing near the edge of woods, and frequently in damp places, often under a fallen 

 branch, or at the foot of a, sapling, and but slightly concealed. It is more bulky 

 than a Song Sparrow's nest, built of weed-stems, grasses, etc. The eggs are four or 

 five in number and, like those of the Song Sparrow, are subject to great variation in 

 size and coloration, as are exhibited by a large series of specimens in Mr. Norris' 

 cabinet. The ground-color is of a pale greenish-blue, spotted, sprinkled and cloud€d 

 with cinnamon-rufous and bay. Some eggs are of a pale cinnamon, sprinkled and 

 clouded with burnt umber. A set of four, containing eggs of the smallest sizes, ex- 

 hibits the following dimensions: .80x.63, .79x.61, .80x.61, .81x.62; another containing 

 the largest eggs gives the following measurements: ,.88x.64, .87x.63, .86x.64, .89x.64. 



559. TREE SPARROW. Spizella monticola (Gmel.) Geog. Dist. — Eastern 

 North America, west to the Plains, breeding far northward; south in winter through 

 Eastern United States. 



This bird looks very much like the Chipping Sparrow but it has a dusky spot in 

 the center of the chest. In Eastern United States it is found only in winter — hence 

 the name. Winter Chip-bird, by which it is known. It breeds in Labrador and the 

 region about Hudson Bay. The nest is described as being placed in trees or bushes 

 or on the ground, and composed of grasses, mud, fine rootlets and hair. The eggs 

 have no similarity to those of the Chipping Sparrow. They are light green, flecked 

 with minute markings of reddish-brown, distributed with great regularity over the 

 surface, but so sparsely as to leave the ground distinctly visible; on the whole 

 somewhat resembling the eggs of the Song Sparrow, with endless variations; four 

 or five in number; size, .80x.60 inches. 



559a. WESTERN TREE SPARROW. Spizella monticola ochracea Brewst. 

 Geog. Dist. — Western North America, breeding in Alaska, wintering in Western 

 United States, south to Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. 



A paler colored Tree Sparrow which breeds in Alaska and southward to an 

 undetermined latitude. Nesting and eggs in nowise peculiar. Eggs, .78x.55. 



560. CHIPPING SPARROW. Spizella socialis (Wils.) Geog. Dist.— Eastern 

 North America, north to Great Slave Lake, west to the Plains, south into Eastern 

 Mexico. .' 



