96 



vertei;rates: birds. 



Kig. 136 — Song Sparrow. 



Bluebird ; and tlicrc arc two .species in North America, 

 — the Red Crossbill and the White-winged Crossbill, 

 the latter hax'inL;- white bands upon the wings. 



Sparrows are plain-colored 

 birds, generally dull brown, 

 xarioush- striped and marked, 

 and are the most common 

 in open fields, orchards, and 

 about low bushes. There 

 are many kinds in North 

 America, all of which are 

 small, the largest scarcely 

 equalling the common Bluebird in size. Some of the 

 principal kinds are the Ba}'-wingcd Bunting, the Yel- 

 low-winged Sparrow, the White-crowned Sparrow, the 

 White-throated Sparrow, the Black Snowbird, the 

 Tree Sparrow, the Chipping Sparrow, the Song Spar- 

 row, the Swamp Sparrow, the Fox-colored Sparrow, etc. 



The Grosbeaks have the bill 

 very large, and hence their name, 

 which means great beak. The 

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak is one of 

 the most beautiful of the North 

 American birds. It is smaller than 

 a Robin, and the color is black and 

 white, the breast a rich carmine. 

 The female has no black or car- 

 mine. The song is loud, clear, 

 and sweet. 



The Ground Robin, Towhee 

 Bunting, or Che\\'ink, is about t\\'o 

 thirds as large as a Robin, the p-j^, _ ji^^^g. 



color black and white. The fe- breasted Grosbeak. 



