96 



vertebrates: birds. 



Fig. 136 — Song Sparrou'. 



Bluebird ; and tliere arc two species in North America, 

 — the Red Crossbill and the \\'hite-\\-inged Crossbill, 

 the latter ha\'in!:;- white bands upon the wings. 



Sparrows are plain-colored 

 birds, generally dull brown, 

 variously striped and marked, 

 and are the most common 

 in open fields, orchards, and 

 about low bushes. There 

 are man}- 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 Bay-winged Bunting, the Yel- 

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

 White-throated Sparro\\-, 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 CheA\'ink, is about two 

 thirds as large as a Robin, the F,g. 13-. _ Rose- 

 color black and white. The fe- breasted Grosbeak. 



